Polar Bear Progress Pics
Sat Jul 15, 2017 10:55 am
Hadn't realized how extensive the rebuild was going to be...pretty amazing.
https://www.facebook.com/18169662184560 ... =3&theater
https://www.facebook.com/18169662184560 ... =3&theater
Re: Polar Bear Progress Pics
Sat Jul 15, 2017 2:41 pm
excellent!! 
Re: Polar Bear Progress Pics
Sun Jul 16, 2017 4:52 pm
Moon Spillers built this restoration using a wing form a "D" model.
Would it be possible to use the I.D. of the "D" wing to build another airplane?
Looking forward to seeing the progress. I've always really liked this machine.
I saw it at Geneseo in the '80's when it had less than 20 hours since restoration.
I also saw it at the Gathering of Mustangs and Legends. It was the only Allison powered Mustang there
Andy
Would it be possible to use the I.D. of the "D" wing to build another airplane?
Looking forward to seeing the progress. I've always really liked this machine.
I saw it at Geneseo in the '80's when it had less than 20 hours since restoration.
I also saw it at the Gathering of Mustangs and Legends. It was the only Allison powered Mustang there
Andy
Re: Polar Bear Progress Pics
Sun Jul 16, 2017 5:02 pm
It will be a gorgeous machine when completed (looking forward to seeing the new paint scheme they have chosen!), and I love all of the great early details being incorporated into the cockpit, such as the early radio boxes, panels, engine controls, trim console, etc.
Re: Polar Bear Progress Pics
Sun Jul 16, 2017 10:23 pm
I also have a little history with this aircraft back when Moon owned Polar Bear. I saw this Mustang when it was located at Versailles Ohio which was Moon/s home airport. I wrote a short article on Moon and Polar Bear for EAA's Warbird Magazine. On July 4th 1987 I drove down to Versailles, and flew with Moon in Polar Bear back to Bryan Ohio for the Annual Kiwani's Fly In Breakfast in Bryan.
Moon and Polar Bear were a huge hit here in little ole Bryan OH that day. I then flew back to Versailles with Moon that same day. The really cool thing for me is this was back in the early days of Camcorders. So I had a freind of mine record our arrival at the Bryan Airport as we beat the field up pretty good. I still have that footage 30 years later. It was my first Mustang ride. We got back to Versailles, and I had been in the air with Moon probably at least an hour if not more. I asked how much I owed him for the P-51 ride.
You had to know Moon to apprecaite this he said in kind of a off handed way he said Ed is $125.00 to much to ask LOL. Needless to say by today's standards that was dirt cheap. Great guy and a great aircraft. I echo J T's words will be interesting to see what comes out of Idaho.
Moon and Polar Bear were a huge hit here in little ole Bryan OH that day. I then flew back to Versailles with Moon that same day. The really cool thing for me is this was back in the early days of Camcorders. So I had a freind of mine record our arrival at the Bryan Airport as we beat the field up pretty good. I still have that footage 30 years later. It was my first Mustang ride. We got back to Versailles, and I had been in the air with Moon probably at least an hour if not more. I asked how much I owed him for the P-51 ride.
You had to know Moon to apprecaite this he said in kind of a off handed way he said Ed is $125.00 to much to ask LOL. Needless to say by today's standards that was dirt cheap. Great guy and a great aircraft. I echo J T's words will be interesting to see what comes out of Idaho.
Re: Polar Bear Progress Pics
Mon Jul 17, 2017 8:27 am
Ed Likes wrote:I wrote a short article on Moon and Polar Bear for EAA's Warbird Magazine.
In those days it had no name, certainly that was the case when I saw it for the first time at OSH in 1988. I believe it only became 'Polar Bear' after the late Jerry Gabe acquired it in the mid-'90s.