Sierra Sue II has flown!

[Warbirdnerd]

She sure looks great!
Photos linked from their Facebook page:

[Pat Carry]

[CAPFlyer]

Great to see her in the air! Saw a note on Facebook that Doug Rozendaal got to be the first to take her back up and that's a great thing too on so many levels.

[JohnTerrell]

It was so great to have learned of the news yesterday - a restoration I've been most anticipating seeing completed/flying. Another benchmark in authentic Mustang restorations has been set, and this aircraft will win the awards wherever it shows up, no matter who else does. I'm really looking forward to seeing it with all of the final details applied. So cool to walk up close to the aircraft and see remnants of period-correct Alclad watermarks on the aluminum, all over the exterior (even where there was an attempt to remove them, but, like from the factory, only to a certain extent, leaving traces here and there), and the random mixture/variety of original silver, blue, and yellow rivets. The stencils on the exterior which were applied with ink stamps were applied the same way in this restoration, so they're not perfect, and have various imperfections as they would have. From the very start of the restoration, everything was done to restore it as if it was going right back through the early P-51D-20-NA production line all over again, with every detail exact to its specific production block. Even the paint/primer applications were done as if originally at the factory - many of the internal parts that are primered have streaks in the finish, just as per original, as they were dipped in primer rather than sprayed - many other parts/regions have no primer finish internally at all, as per original. The cockpit interior green paint application wasn't done until after the fuselage was assembled, with all of the individual parts either primered or bare metal, to the point of assembly at the factory at which time the cockpit was painted, which would leave areas where the interior green spray couldn't get to. Furthermore, the bare metal is not polished, but left just as it is new, as it would have from the factory - some panels are more dull than others.

Here's a nice video from the aircraft's first start-up and ground runs from a couple weeks back. I love how giddy the owner Paul Ehlen is upon seeing the aircraft up-close and getting seated in it. He doesn't look the part in his business clothes, but once in his flightsuit and taxiing the aircraft around, it is clearer to see the experienced warbird pilot he is. He used to the be the owner of the P-51D "Little Horse", for several years, which has since belonged to the Texas Flying Legends. He has also been the long-time owner of an AT-6D that happens to be one of the most authentic of any flying today.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwj-66GDS0A

BTW, Vlado, if you're viewing this, how about those inner gear doors? : ) 100% authentic, and never seen finished quite like that in a Mustang restoration before.

[Dan Johnson II]

Beautiful! Kinda nice to be in Minnesota, the land of combat bet Mustangs

Gonna have to read my copy of Sierra Sue II again!

[mlenoch]

My work is never done................


BTW, Vlado, if you're viewing this, how about those inner gear doors? : ) 100% authentic, and never seen finished quite like that in a Mustang restoration before.
............Fabulous!! The entire ship looks great.
VL

[Champ driver]

Congratulations to all the crew!
It's great to see her back in the skies again.

[marine air]

Looks really beautiful. Is this a former Connie Edwards airplane?

[Warbirdnerd]

Looks really beautiful. Is this a former Connie Edwards airplane?

Not and ex Edwards bird. 9th AF combat vet to Sweden and ended up as a gate guard in Nicaragua: Its been in Minnesota since 1983.
http://www.mustangsmustangs.com/p-51/?s ... l/44-63675

[StangStung]

Wow. Jaw dropping. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: We live in a new golden age of warbirding as far as adhering to originality goes. Fantastic stuff.

Almost makes you forget about that Madras Maiden business from a few weeks ago...

Cheers to this crew. Outstanding.

[Red Tail]

I was on hand for the first flight on Wednesday. Truly amazing craftsmanship...the pix do not do the level of detail justice...the bar has been raised again!

The DougR flew another 1.25 yesterday with no issues, "She's a great airplane...Ready to leave the nest". Nose art to be applied before the end of next week along with more finishing touches. Semi-priavte debut set for next Saturday and then back to BJI for a bit to have more period correct hardware installed.

Well done AirCorp crew and huge thank you to Paul Ehlen for taking the time and spending considerable resources to bring this piece of history back to full glory. Paul I hope you enjoy it as much...and for as long as Roger did!

John

[Ed Likes]

I also want to extend my congratulations to Eric Hokuf, and the entire team at Air Corp Aviation. From the description being given that the bar for Mustang Restorations has indeed been raised again. I hope I get to see it somewhere in the future.
Regarding Air Corp Aviation my understanding is that waiting in the wings so to speak are a couple of other exicitng projects. They being a P-51C and a P-38 Lightning which my understanding is Texas Flying Legends owns.
I no very little about either aircraft can someone chime in if you know anything about the previous history of either aircraft? I thought I read somewhere that the P-38 is the ex Bruce Pruitt aircraft that Jeff Ethall tragically lost his life in back in 1997 out in Oregon is that part true?
John Terrell you out there you seem to know a lot about was is going on along with others of course on this WIX Forum. Thanks I will look forward to any feedback. But again to Air Corp Aviation I salute you with your latest restoration of another P-51.

[Lightning]

Howdy

The bar is still set with Westpac Restorations rebuild of Paul Allen's P-51D!

Lightning

[Red Tail]

I personally would love to see all of the best of the best flying P-51's on the same ramp for judging...winner takes the glory.

John

[Red Tail]

I also want to extend my congratulations to Eric Hokuf, and the entire team at Air Corp Aviation. From the description being given that the bar for Mustang Restorations has indeed been raised again. I hope I get to see it somewhere in the future.
Regarding Air Corp Aviation my understanding is that waiting in the wings so to speak are a couple of other exicitng projects. They being a P-51C and a P-38 Lightning which my understanding is Texas Flying Legends owns.
I no very little about either aircraft can someone chime in if you know anything about the previous history of either aircraft? I thought I read somewhere that the P-38 is the ex Bruce Pruitt aircraft that Jeff Ethall tragically lost his life in back in 1997 out in Oregon is that part true?
John Terrell you out there you seem to know a lot about was is going on along with others of course on this WIX Forum. Thanks I will look forward to any feedback. But again to Air Corp Aviation I salute you with your latest restoration of another P-51.

Correct on all counts and AC more projects than those you listed.

John