NMUSAF Piper PA-48E Enforcer for sale

[eze240]

The museum almost always lists such airframes like that to cover themselves for liability issues....
Getting the log books and other records would, I think, be the most difficult part on an aircraft that's complete....
On this aircraft you've got the extra issue of the engine and gearbox....according to wiki, the T-55 rated at 2445hp....is there a suitable engine readily available? I think a PT6 might be a bit lacking, if that's correct....

[Kyleb]

...is there a suitable engine readily available?

Merlin or Allison? Honestly, why not?

[bdk]

The museum almost always lists such airframes like that to cover themselves for liability issues....
Getting the log books and other records would, I think, be the most difficult part on an aircraft that's complete....
On this aircraft you've got the extra issue of the engine and gearbox....according to wiki, the T-55 rated at 2445hp....is there a suitable engine readily available? I think a PT6 might be a bit lacking, if that's correct....

It doesn't fit into the Limited type certificate, so any logbooks probably wouldn't matter anyhow. As Experimental you could put any engine on it.

[Snake45]

...is there a suitable engine readily available?

Merlin or Allison? Honestly, why not?

A bubbletop Allison Mustang--now there's something I don't believe I've seen before.

[martin_sam_2000]

I would just throw a Garret on it. you can keep the one sided exhaust and I am sire you can figure something out for a prop. Any standard King Air 100 prop should work fine.

PT-6 would be nice..but your limited with the exhaust ducting and I think the Enforcer looks great with the once sided exhaust.

Sean

[Lon Moer]

<>
A bubbletop Allison Mustang--now there's something I don't believe I've seen before.

Starting to get off-topic, but Anthony D'Alessandris converted one of his Mustangs back in the early '70s.
Was later changed back to a Merlin.

civilMustang99a.jpg (64.47 KiB) Viewed 1899 times

[Snake45]

<>
A bubbletop Allison Mustang--now there's something I don't believe I've seen before.

Starting to get off-topic, but Anthony D'Alessandris converted one of his Mustangs back in the early '70s.
Was later changed back to a Merlin.

civilMustang99a.jpg

Didn't say it never happened (and boy am I glad!). Just said I don't think I'd ever seen one before.

Now I have.

[eze240]

While an Allison or Merlin are good choices, these later two airframes were supposedly a little bigger than a P-51....also, I like the PT6, but it maxes out at about 1900hp....would it be acceptable to lose about 500hp or more?

[C VEICH]

Since you won't be hauling around any stores and strictly flying for enjoyment I doubt the loss of 500hp would be a deal breaker. Plus there has to be some military equipment/armor plating that can be removed, no?

[Randy Haskin]

Since you won't be hauling around any stores and strictly flying for enjoyment I doubt the loss of 500hp would be a deal breaker. Plus there has to be some military equipment/armor plating that can be removed, no?

The prototypes had very little in the way of actual military equipment in 'em. They were not armored, no.

[marine air]

Randy, I agree that any real military use of the P-51 with possible turboprop upgrade probably was gone by the 1960’s. I actually think an upgraded T-28 would’ve been better than the P-51. Nit sure why the Enforcer idea survived into the 1980’s. As the P-51 airframes continue to age and many restorations are thirty to forty years old, it’s hard to get embrace the escalating prices they continue to bring. Aircraft shop rates in my area are $50 to $125 dollars per hour. What are warbird shop rates? $200 per hour?
So, I can see in say, 25 years or around the 100th anniversary of WW II, a few completely new build P-51’s being commissioned for the ultra wealthy. They would look identical but have glass cockpits, air conditioning, and a factory new turbo prop or diesel aircraft engine. They might even sneak a nose wheel up front like on the Bacon T-6 , T-28, or OV-10. A lot of wealthy people just want to own and fly. They’re aren’t interested in having the maintainers and parts fabricators as their “ new best friend.”

Last edited by marine air on Wed Jul 14, 2021 9:43 am, edited 1 time in total.

[Bearcat SA]

Randy, I agree that any real military use of the P-51 with a possible turboprop upgrade probably was gone by the 1960’s. I ctually think an upgraded T-28 would’ve been better than the P-51. Nit sure why the Enforcer idea survived into the 1980’s. As the P-51 airframes continue to age and many restorations are thirty to forty years old, it’s hard to get embrac3 the escalating prices they continue to bring. Aircraft shop rates in my area are $50 to $125 dollars per hour. What are warbird shop rates? $200 per hour?
So, I can see in say, 25 years or around the 100th anniversary of WW II, a few completely new build P-51’s being commissioned for the ultra wealthy. They would look identical but have glass cockpits, air conditioning, and a factory new turbo prop or diesel aircraft engine. They might even sneak a nose wheel up front like on the Bacon T-6 , T-28, or OV-10. A lot of wealthy people just want to own and fly. They’re aren’t interested in having the maintainers are parts fabricators as their “ new best friend.”

Its already happening ... Spitfire project with a Walter turbine

[spriso]

I felt very fortunate to see this aircraft in a 2012 visit to the Air Force museum. When I saw the for sale ad a few weeks ago, I was surprised to see the PA-48E without the engine, but after reading this thread, I now understand why it won't be offered with the aircraft. Here are a few shots from my visit:

[Michel Lemieux]

Now that is interesting!!!

Any back story on this one????

Spitfire project with a Walter turbine

[Joe Scheil]

any real military use of the P-51 with a possible turboprop upgrade probably was gone by the 1960’s. I ctually think an upgraded T-28 would’ve been better than the P-51. Nit sure why the Enforcer idea survived into the 1980’s..”

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