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Col Rohr...please don't get all your exercise jumping to conclusions. There is a funny article floating around face book. Plus, long standing jokes about racing mustangs being converted to TFs...
Shamelessly stolen from the P-51 Mustang Face Book page....
Warbird aficionados have been closely following the auction of N5416V, a P-51D-25NT Mustang that has sat dormant for many years. Along with the aircraft, an extra Merlin engine and other assorted items were included in the auction. On June 4, 2015, the auction closed with a winning bid of $851,000 US dollars. BHI is listed as the successful party.
In a rare turn of events, Warbird Daily News has scooped the entire warbird internet rumor industry with this story:
BHI has been identified as Brad Haskin Industries. Haskin, a former Navy P-3 pilot, has given this outlet a short but exclusive interview on how he won the auction, and what his plans are for the Mustang.
"I just kept hitting Send on the auction web site," the 45 year-old Haskin said. "Early on, there were a number of bidders, but it came down to AirCorps Aviation and me. They put up a worthy fight, and I was lucky to win in the end."
Haskin used his current salary and his military pension for some wise investments. This fueled his dream to some day own a Mustang. The investments paid off, and allowed him to take the next step towards his dream.
"I can't believe it," he said. "I'm so happy, but my brother is PISSED." Randy Haskin, his brother, is a former F-15E driver with combat time. He was seen mumbling nearby and making hand gestures.
Haskin hovers around the outskirts of many aviation circles, but is a keen and sly member of the Reno air racing community. It doesn't take long to find out what may be in store.
"Yeah, this puppy is going to race at Reno. Although it's a completely stock, original airframe, we're going to cut it up pretty good and make it a gold-level TF-51 racer. There is a lot of merit to the idea of going fast while scaring the tits off the person in the back seat," he said. "Thom Richard and his Precious Metal was a huge influence for my idea. We're going to make the airplane pretty much a Strega clone, except for the second cockpit and a Precious Metal-style Long-EZ canopy. It's going to be trick."
Haskin is wasting no time; he's deep into plans to pick up the airplane and have it delivered to Bill "Tiger" Destefani's shop in Bakersfield. "I think his shop is a winner," Haskin said. "Lot's of talent there." He's also hitting up Mike Barrow for the racing Merlin, and has some specific ideas on racing propellers. "I have some key people picked out to run the program," Haskin said. "As time goes by, they'll be announced at the right moment. Some of them are from Texas and like hot sauce, guns, and mustaches."
And what is the time frame for the project?
"You know, it's always hard to say... I'd love to be at Reno in 2016 if we can get this to the shop and cut up in the next month. The first part of the program will get the airplane flying and tested with a stock Merlin, then we'll hopefully have three months to test with the race motor," Haskin said. "Phase two begins the week after Reno 2016 with a team meeting to identify, document, and list areas for improvement and modification."
When asked about a pretty far-out rumor concerning alternate engines, Haskin grew somewhat irritated that there was a possibility his secret was out. "I have no idea where that idea came from," he said. "I'm not even sure how to get a R-4360 on a Mustang, but Kerch sure likes the idea."
Stay tuned for further updates as the "One-Six Victor" project moves along! See you in September!
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