The P-51D Mustang - Cadillac of the Skies Series
Part 1- Restored
North American's Classic Iconic aircraft takes to the skies with Part 1 of our unique series of sets specially designed for FSX featuring THE most accurate modeling and performance of this iconic aircraft ever made for simulation bar none!
>>> CALLING ALL PROFESSIONAL AIRMEN : Take a look at the long list of details below and (following recent testing) see why our versions are already being hailed by REAL Mustang pilots and Museums as "the most accurate version of the P51 flying in any simulation today" (Real World Quotes and reports coming soon) <<<
Restored examples as they fly today across the world are represented in this 2nd part of the series and not detracting from the historical importance of this iconic aircraft either since these are some of the finest representations of the breed!
Using ORIGINAL North American plans and blueprints and working from literally thousands of photographs and sketches incorporating three years of extensive research and development. This is THE enthusiasts definitive version that many have long been waiting for brought to life with all the loving care and stunning attention to detail our studios are becoming renowned for.
Represented in this definitive work of rare and unique models of the thoroughbread fighter are a host of details from the small but significant to the spectacular. This is as close as you will get to flying the real P-51D in FSX!
SPECIAL RENDERING & LIGHTING FX
Making use of the additional features in FSX such as unique, bump texturing and specular lighting add even additional authenticity to an already-wonderfully-detailed, 3d model (and special, reflective textures make the bare metal aircraft almost translucent as the original)!
The following aircraft are included in this unique and highly-detailed package:
*** SEVEN DIFFERUNIQUE AIRCRAFT AS THEY FLY TODAY!
*** Packard Merlin Sound Set as recorded in the real cockpit on the day with (over 84 hours of editing and mixing and cross-checking to get the right balances)!
*** Complete Livery Package (see details below) for every version inc. subtle changes!
P-51D-30NA - 'Happy Jack's Go Buggy'
P-51D-20NA - 'Upupa Epops'
F-6D-25NT - 'Lil' Margaret'
P-51K-10NT - 'Fragile But Agile'
P-51D-25NT - 'NACA 127'
P-51D-25NA - 'Ferocious Frankie'
P-51D-25NA - 'Vintage Wings Of Canada'
Individual Aircraft Specifications / Details / Differences
P-51D-30NA Mustang. 'Happy Jack's Go Buggy'
Originally manufactured at NAA's Inglewood plant, as 44-74452, this aircraft's earliest records indicate it served with the RCAF as 9225, from 1950 to 1958, then was surplussed/sold for scrap. In 1962, the aircraft was imported into Guatemala, and served with the Guatemalan AF as FAG 366. A decade later, it was returned to the USA through Don Hull, and registered as N74190. Soon after, the aircraft was purchased by Conny Edwards, flown briefly and put into storage alongside several other former FAG-Mustangs that had been brought back to the US. While by the year 2000, there were plans to use this aircraft as a template for new-build Mustangs and a future restoration under the ownership of Millennium Classics, Inc., the plans fell through. In 2006, the aircraft was purchased by FTR ESC LLC and sent to Midwest Aero Restorations for a complete rebuild. Found to be in time-capsule form, the aircraft was completed in 2008, finished in the markings of Maj. Jack Ilfrey's 20th FG mount, "Happy Jack's Go Buggy". The level of accuracy to WWII factory spec and practices is at the highest with this restoration. After completion in 2008, the aircraft easily won the Warbird Grand Champion award at EAA Oshkosh.
Exterior Finish and Details as per the actual restored 'Happy Jack's Go Buggy'
- Bare metal left in a dull sheen, to accurately portray the patina of an in-service Mustang, based in WWII-England.
- The paint work matches that of the original 20th FG P-51D "Happy Jack's Go Buggy", to exacting standards, including the use of RAF green in the field-applied camouflage, and the squadron-applied stencils over the squadron markings on the nose and spinner.
- The squadron-applied paint work accurately covers over WWII-era accurate, pre-applied, factory stencils.
- Clear protective lacquer, painted over stencils, just as originally done at the factory, is tinted yellowish brown to match the in-service look of dirt and grime being embedded in the lacquer over time.
- Bright lines on the natural metal are marks of acid etching, just as originally applied at the factory, one of the practices done to clean the metal for spot welding to occur effectively. (At the factory, where the spot-welding was to occur, a worker would simply brush on the acid etch cleaner, put the two parts together, and spot weld).
- The canopy installed is of the slick-back Dallas type, just as on the original Happy Jack's Go Buggy, an Inglewood, California-manufactured P-51D-5. With Dallas-manufactured canopies supplied to England as spares and replacements, many P-51D-5's were retrofitted in the field, to use the Dallas type canopy rather than the early canopy profile as in use in D-5 production.
- Both a tall-profile Spitfire mirror and a faired-over P-38 mirror are mounted to the canopy, just as was retrofitted to the original Happy Jack's Go Buggy in the exact same manner.
- The factory-installed Detrola Antenna has been removed (as most all 8th AF Mustangs were modified).
- A functional AN/APS-13 tail-warning-radar set is installed.
- The gear wells are finished exactly as they were, per this particular airframe, from the factory, and recreated within the restoration. (Each gear well is uniquely different from the other. Each wing half was manufactured separately, and since each batch of chromate yellow treatment was made on the spot, the chromate yellow was often not the same shade on one side, or on a single part, than on the other side, or a different part, thus leaving each wheel well uniquely different. The materials used in some parts constituted the need to paint various parts interior green as well, after the chromate yellow treatment.)
- Authentic, period-accurate Alcoa and/or Reynolds aluminum water marks are recreated throughout the aircraft, and can be seen on the bare metal of the wing fuel tank panels, and within the wheel well skins, as found on the original airframe and recreated in the restoration. (Where treated with chromate yellow primer, the watermarks bleed through, as they are a dye rather than paint.)
-The wings, just as done at the factory during WWII, are filled with putty, sanded smooth, and painted silver, a process that was done to maximize the efficiency of the laminar airflow design.
- A full compliment of original 1944 factory-applied stencils, populate the exterior of the aircraft.
- The gear legs are cadmium plated, just as the originals, and feature all of the original stencils, and original Bendix Strut and Menasco placards.
- The tires feature the original tire-tread patterns.
- The main wheels feature original period-accurate Goodyear manufacturing stickers.
- The authentic cuffed-Hamilton Standard propeller features original manufacturer decals and stencils, as well as NAA factory-applied gun sight and camera bore-sighting stencils, on the backside of the prop blades.
- Replica 108-gallon 'paper' drop tanks can be added & removed. The tanks, having been fitted to the actual restored aircraft for Oshkosh 2008, are created from a mold taken from one the few remaining examples.
Interior Finish and Details as per the actual restored 'Happy Jack's Go Buggy'
- The entire interior is just as it was when it rolled out of the factory, with the exception of modern radios required for operation in today's flight environment.
- The seat is an all-metal, 'Schick Johnson' manufactured example, as originally installed in this particular airframe.
- The gun sight, a functioning K-14A model, is accurate to the 1944/1945 period.
- All stencils are created using the exact, original font-types.
- All placards are created exactly as the originals, using original font-types. Many of the placards are made of phenolic-resin, while others are made of metal.
- All of the hardware within the cockpit is exact to what was originally used, including both flat-head and Phillips-head screws, Cherry Lok rivets, and safety-wired bolts and lock nuts.
- All the paint finishes, per each individual part, is accurate according to how each part was found to be originally painted (or un-painted), matching up with original factory photos.
- The floor panels are made of plywood and painted interior green. From the seat, forward to the rudder pedals, the floor is finished in a top-coat of non-slide flat black paint. All of this is exactly as done originally at the factory on all P-51B/C/D/K's.
- All of the instrumentation is exactly as originally installed, with the original (radium) faces recreated new, using EPA-approved paint that glows under ultra-violet light. All of the faces feature accurate, original font-types, which vary from one gauge to another.
- Factory-applied, accurately recreated Electrical-Inspection stickers and stamps can be found applied to electrical panels, the gun sight, and the SCR-522 radio set, marking that they are signed-off and approved for service.
- An accurately recreated government AN inspection stamp is applied to the gun sight, marking its approval for use before shipment to NAA's factory.
- The gun sight range placard is accurate to that of the European-theater type, providing Luftwaffe aircraft selections by wingspan dimensions.
- The rear of the cockpit, behind the pilot's armor plate, is fully outfitted, featuring the fuselage fuel tank, radio/battery rack, SCR-522 radio set, battery, plumbing and wiring, fuselage fuel tank gauge, resin liners and balsa wood wedges, and more.
P-51D-20NA Mustang. 'Upupa Epops'
This P-51 is one of the very few types remaining that actually saw combat service during WWII. The aircraft was delivered to the United States Army Air Force, fresh from the Inglewood factory, on January 26, 1945. Sent to England, and allocated to the 352nd FS, of the 353rd FG, based in Raydon, England, the aircraft was assigned to Lt. Harrison B. 'Bud' Tordoff, and entered combat for the first time on March 1, 1945. Bud had already accumulated one tour of combat duty, flying the P-47, when he returned for a second, and was assigned the P-51D. By this time in the war, for matters of negative-propaganda, the Eighth Air Force required official approval before a name was to be painted on an aircraft. Using his background in ornithology, Bud figured he give the officials a bit of a hard time, choosing 'Upupa Epops' the scientific name for the 'hoopoe' a name that Bud liked for its silliness, and the bird's bizarre appearance. While it likely caused some question, the name was approved without comment. In the final six weeks of the war in Europe, Bud flew the aircraft in support of the daylight bombing raids against Germany throughout occupied Europe and in support of missions for the Allied ground forces during the liberation of mainland Europe. During this time, Bud shot down two Luftwaffe aircraft while flying Upupa Epops, including an Me 262, adding to his tally from his first combat tour, totaling.9 victories in all. With the war in Europe over, Bud was sent back to the U.S., while Upupa Epops stayed in Europe. Amongst many other P-51D's that remained, the aircraft was sold to Sweden in 1947, where it served until 1954. At this time it was bought by the Dominican Republic, where it saw service until the early 1980's! In 1984 the aircraft was bought and brought back into the U.S., and stored until being purchased in 1999, for what would become the Flying Heritage Collection. Sent to West Pac Restorations, the aircraft was found to be in near time-capsule form, and over an almost three-year period, the aircraft was restored exactly as it was when manufactured in 1945, using exhaustive research and detective work. In the summer of 2003, Captain Harrison 'Bud' Tordoff was reunited with his airplane, at the Flying Heritage Collection museum the first time he had seen it since WWII. Upon detailed inspection, the restoration team knew they had done right, when Bud gave them his approval. As an accurately restored P-51D-20, the exterior and interior of 'Upupa Epops' is quite different than a later-model D-25 and D-30, such as 'Happy Jack's Go Buggy'. There are of course differences as a result of two different restorations as well.
Detail differences include the following:
- The throttle lever and twist handle is of an early-type - introduced for the first time during D-20 production, when the K-14 gun sight was first installed from the factory.
- The placement of the gear indicator lights on the instrument panel is above the left longeron, in front of the engine controls.
- The Fuel Selector and Hydraulic Pressure brackets are painted interior green, rather than black.
- A fuel placard is mounted on the instrument panel, to the left of the parking brake handle (where the gear indicator lights are mounted on later D-models).
- The bomb levers are painted interior green, rather than a bare finish.
- The document and map case is painted black, rather than interior green.
- The arm rest is void of the later Arm Rest stencil.
- The left upper longeron is void of the later Gun & Fus. Level stencils.
- The carburetor control levers are painted black, rather than bare finish.
- The fuel booster pump guard is made of clear plastic rather than metal.
- The center floor/wing upper surface is painted interior green.
- An early-style, radio-fuse panel is installed along the right side of the cockpit.
- The electrical and radio fuse panels are painted interior green.
- A single radio audio/detonator/G-Band panel is in place of the later radio audio/detonator/IFF/F-band/G-band and radar warning panels.
- The 'Schick Johnson' seat is painted black rather than interior green!
- The pilot's armor plate is painted interior green from the floor to top of cockpit, rather than overall black.
- The gun sight control unit is mounted on the right side of the instrument panel, rather than the left (only the very last P-51D's had the gun sight control unit mounted on the left, from the factory, including D-25's and D-30's).
- There is no spare-light bulb panel installed, accurate to the production model.
- A Setchell Carlson, Inc. Detrola Receiver is mounted to the right floor board.
- An early/standard artificial gyro horizon gauge is installed.
- An early/standard gyro compass gauge is installed.
- An early/standard engine RPM gauge is installed.
- An internal, factory-stock, canopy mirror is installed.
- An early-production canopy-mounted antenna wire guide is installed.
- The radio rack is painted interior green, rather than black.
- The lower engine cowling access panels are reduced to 1/and rearranged differently to the later D-25/D-30 design.
- The wing drop tank connections are different to the later D-25/D-30 design.
F-6D-25NT Mustang. 'Lil' Margaret'
This particular Mustang is one of the most unique of the airworthy Mustangs flying today, as it is the only surviving F-6D variant, restored to original configuration. Completed in June of 1945, 44-84786 was accepted by the USAAF, and served with the 69th Tactical Reconnaissance Group, 363rd Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, at Brooks Field, Texas. Aircraft of this group were painted with blue & white checkered markings on the nose and tail, with a blue spinner markings that had derived from the wartime 15th TRS. After being stricken off service in 1949, the aircraft was sold into civilian hands, and after passing through a couple of owners, it eventually was bought by Bill Myers in 1966, and stored (in parts) within his home. On the lookout for a Mustang project to be restored to completely original WWII configuration, Henry 'Butch' Schroeder purchased the aircraft in 1981, and trucked it to Danville, IL, where the restoration commenced. What was found was an F-6D that had never been restored since its service in the USAAF, presenting a perfect opportunity to restore the aircraft to original WWII configuration, as desired. During the 12-year restoration, the now notable names of David Young and Mike VadeBonCoeur (Midwest Aero Restorations) headed the rebuild. A decision was made early on, to paint the aircraft in the markings of 15th TRS Ace pilot, Clide B. East's 'Lil' Margaret'. The end result of all of the years of restoration was an entirely new benchmark in Mustang restorations at the time, easily going on to win the coveted Grand Champion Warbird award at EAA Oshkosh, 1993. Never had so much attention been paid, on a Mustang restoration, to recreating all of the original factory stencils, USAAF markings, and all original military equipment, including the fuselage fuel tank, armor plate, and even the AN/APS-13 tail-warning-radar set.
Select details as per the actual restored 'Lil' Margaret'
Exterior
- Late WWII, square-tip Hamilton-Standard 'paddle' blades are installed.
- Both left-facing camera ports are installed - the bottom facing example is not installed, as per the restoration.
- A K-24 camera is installed in the bottom-left facing camera port (only one camera could be installed at any given time the larger left facing camera port reserved for the larger K-17 and K-22 cameras).
- A fully reproduced set of rocket launcher stubs are installed on each wing.
- Fully reproduced 75-gallon metal drop tanks can be selected and removed, or released if desired.
- The camera access door and camera-related placards and stencils are recreated.
- Camera sighting marks are recreated on the left wing, exactly to the design and dimensions outlined in the original manual.
- Gear wells, exposed plumbing, and tail wheel hub are finished entirely in interior green/OD just as on the real thing.
Interior:
- Camera-sighting marks are applied on the inside of the canopy, exactly as instructed in the original manual - each cross is 1" wide, with each line being 3/64" thick - each cross is positioned through exact dimensions instructed by the original manual, referenced to specific points on the canopy framing.
- Varnished wood floors - not accurate to WWII finish, but done so to prevent a build-up of grit, that would otherwise be caused by the factory non-slide paint applied to the floor boards. The domed screws for the floor boards, is also not accurate, as the originals had flat-head screws (no-longer seen once the non-slide paint was applied).
- Steal kick-plates are installed- again not accurate, but put in place to save the floor.
- A tubular-design Warren-McArthur type seat is installed, instead of the Schick Johnson.
- The factory data-plate is of the metal Dallas, Texas type, rather than a phenolic-resin Inglewood type.
- A fully reproduced F-6D camera control panel is located just forward of the throttle unit, just as in the real Lil' Margaret.
- A fully reproduced camera intervalometer is located on the left floor board - not located in the same position as on the Lil' Margaret restoration, but an accurate position in any case, based on a couple of original factory photos (on the restored Lil' Margaret, the intervalometer is mounted where the modern radios are modeled in each of the Mustangs within this product).
P-51K-10NT Mustang. 'Fragile But Agile'
When this aircraft was first obtained by The Fighter Collection (TFC), all of the paperwork from Israel and Sweden pertained to the aircraft as being 44-63864, an aircraft that originally served in the 78th FG, painted as 'Twilight Tear'. As can be expected, TFC were excited at the thought of having a true 78th Fighter Group aircraft based at its original home field of Duxford. This identity was backed up by the fact that the Swedish data-plate installed, read "26158", which matched up to Swedish Air Force paperwork for "26158" identified as 44-63864. The Israeli, Swedish and UK Governments all registered the aircraft, both through import and export, as 44-63864. When stripped of paint, and broken down into its component parts for restoration however, things started to point to this being a whole different bird, as areas were seen that were not visible when the plane was complete. There were two Japanese flag and the name 'Lt. Bert Lee' scratched into the fuselage skin, just under the left-side of the cockpit, but the paper work still pointed elsewhere. Through better understanding of the circumstances that led to this aircraft's mistaken identity, it is most likely that at some point the tail sections were swapped with 44-63864 and this airplane, before they both left Israel. Although the US data-plates have never been found but the true identity of 44-63864 has been given back to what is considered the actual, original Twilight Tear, under restoration in North Dakota/Minnesota. Original wartime photos of Lt. Bert Lee's aircraft, which served in the 5th Air Force, in the Pacific, shows the Japanese flags and name, painted exactly as the scratch marks on the metal show.
In a very long and drawn out way, this aircraft has now found its true identity, 'Fragile but Agile', a P-51K-10NT, 44-12016, that was with the 5th Air Force, a true Pacific veteran which actually downed a Mitsubishi Betty on March 11 1945. This is the only known airworthy Pacific-war veteran Mustang.
Select details as per the actual restored 'Fragile But Agile'
- Fully accurate, recreated markings of Fragile But Agile, based on original photos and evidence left in the original metal skins. One side of the tail is painted 44-12018 - a result of an in-field mistake when the tail-codes were re-applied over the squadron-painted rudder markings.
- A fully-reproduced set of Aeroproducts prop blades are installed, featuring accurate stencils and decals.
- The nose-cone designed specifically for use with the Aeroproducts propeller blades on K-model Mustangs, is fully reproduced. This nose-cone actually positioned the Aeroproducts prop blades further forward, than the Hamilton-Standard prop-blade/nose-cone setup on D-models).
- The interior is finished with varnished wood floors and many details, recreated directly from the actual restoration.
- The throttle handle is of an early twist-handle design, which has been modified.
- Wheel wells and gear doors are finished per the restored aircraft.
P-51D-25NT Mustang. 'NACA 127'
The National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), used 4 P-51D's as test airframes for various roles. The most significant use of these aircraft by the NACA, was in acquiring data on the Bell X-1 design. The Mustang was chosen for this role, due to its stability, even while exposed to compressibility at high speeds. NACA Mustangs were the first to be modified with extended vertical stabilizers to increase the aircraft's stability at speed. The aircraft were used for wing flow pressure distribution tests, with scale models of various airfoils and X-1 designs mounted on top of the wings for test purposes. Contained within each gun bay were optical balances and strain gauges, which were wired directly to the models. Flown to 30,000 ft, and then put into a 30-degree dive, the top speeds usually would reach around 475-mph in the dive, during the 4G pullout, the supersonic air traveling over the wing would provide the opportunity to gather desired data.
After NACA 127's service, the aircraft went to the Pennsylvania Air National Guard, and eventually wound up on a pole, painted in ANG markings, where it remained until 1994. Rescued by the late David Tallichet, it was eventually purchased by Bill Allmon and sent to Pacific Fighters for restoration. After all the years the aircraft had been displayed, it still retained much of its original NACA equipment. Completed in 1998, the aircraft was finished in original NACA-configuration, with original NACA equipment installed, including original scale model airfoils on top of the wings.
Select details as per the actual restored 'NACA 127'
- The exterior is finished exactly as it was while serving with the NACA (the only exception being the use of silver paint, rather than bare metal).
- The white panels and paint on the wings mark the areas of air-flow over the wings where test-model airfoils are mounted for collecting data during high-speed flight.
- The propellers fitted are the same type as used while with the NACA, which are late WWII-era square-tip Hamilton-Standards.
- The model is complete with accurate scale model airfoils mounted to the wings, taller NACA vertical tail, and outside air temperature probe.
- Wheel wells and gear doors are finished per the restored aircraft.
- The interior is completely stock, with the exception that a tilting front seat and rear seat has been installed, to provide the opportunity of a flight in a Mustang to anyone.
- The instrument panel contains the original NACA modifications, including an outside air temperature gauge, a mach meter, and the gyro compass is rotated 90-degrees.
-The outside air temp, mach meter, and airspeed indicator gauges are specially marked, just as originally while with the NACA, to indicate the need to monitor these three together while conducting the original dive-tests, to facilitate in the collection of data from these tests.
- A "Caution - First Trigger Pos. Fires Gun & Camera" placard has been added to the instrument panel, just as it is on the real aircraft, a placard added to P-51D's post-WWII.
- A couple of parts in the cockpit are painted chromate yellow, rather than interior green, uniquely matching the same finish in the cockpit of the restored aircraft.
- All gunsight-related equipment is deleted, as per the restored aircraft, while the working, tail-warning radar remains installed, just as on the actual aircraft.
- The front seat can be tilted forward/back, by clicking on either the top left or right locking pins.
P-51D-25NA Mustang. 'Ferocious Frankie'
44-73149, was built at the North American Aviation Factory at Inglewood, California, and was accepted by the USAAF on February 27, 1945. Arriving in England a month later, the aircraft was sent to the 8th Air Force, serving at Leiston in Suffolk with the 357th FG, 11 months later returning to Newark, NJ, in January 1946. From here it served with the Royal Canadian Air Force from early 1947, operating from Suffield, Alberta. In 1957, it was sold privately and registered as N6340T. Bought for $5,400 in 1962 with a total of 511 airframe hours, it flew in the Unlimited Race at Reno in 1974, finishing second with an average speed of 384mph. The Fighter Collection purchased the aircraft in 1980, and it flew across the Atlantic to its new owners. Upon arrival, the aircraft was painted in 357th FG colors as Candyman/Moose, with the name on one side of the fuselage and the Moose's head on the other. In 1999 the aircraft was sold to The Old Flying Machine Company, where in now carries the colours of Wallace E. Hopkins, as 'Ferocious Frankie', named after his wife Frankie, coded B7 H of the 374th Fighter Squadron, 361st Fighter Group.
Select details as per the actual restored 'Ferocious Frankie'
- Late WWII, square-tip Hamilton-Standard 'paddle' blades are installed.
- The aircraft features the addition of two, white tear-drop lights, on the vertical tail.
- The front seat can be tilted forward/back, by clicking on either the top left or right locking pins.
- A second landing lamp has been installed in the right wheel well.
- Two seats are installed, allowing for the carriage of a passenger.
- A cut-down, replica armor plate is mounted to the front, tilt-seat.
- Replica 500-lbs bombs may be added/removed, just as done on occasion with the actual aircraft. The replica bombs themselves have been produced to exactly match the replicas used by the OFMC with Ferocious Frankie.
- The floor panels are new-manufacture, made of metal, and painted interior green to match the rest of the cockpit. Steal kick-plates are installed in front of the rudder pedals.
- The rudder pedals are finished in natural metal.
- The throttle handle is of an early twist-handle design, which has been modified.
- An internal, factory-stock, canopy mirror is installed.
- Wheel wells and gear doors are finished per the restored aircraft.
P-51D-25NA Mustang. 'Vintage Wings of Canada' CFVPM
44-73463, was originally manufactured in 1945 at North American Aviation's Inglewood plant. On June 7, 1947, the aircraft was transferred to the RCAF as 9575. In the mid 1950's it was stricken from RCAF service and on February 27, 1957 the aircraft was acquired by Mr. James H. Defuria & Fred J. Ritts of Intercontinental Airways at Canastota, NY. From 1957 to 1961 9575 was stored uncovered at RCAF Station Carberry, Manitoba and in 1961 ownership passed to Aero Enterprises of Elkhart, IN. Over the next 15 years it passed through several owners and was even reported to be on a scrap yard. It was acquired by Richard Ransopher of Texas. He moved the project from Texas to North Carolina in 1985 where restoration was started using the fuselage of RCAF s/n 9575 and parts from three other American aircraft: N1335, N6176C, 44-74574/N5478V. Bob Baker purchased the project in 1998 and restoration work continued at Warbirds Inc. of Oklahoma City (fuselage and wing restoration). In 1999 the project moved to Alva, Oklahoma, for completion. At the EAA convention at Oshkosh, in 2001, the aircraft won the 'Best P-51' award at EAA Oshkosh. Soon after, Michael Potter of Ottawa, Canada, purchased the aircraft, and was registered as 'CF-VPM'. A new paint scheme was applied in 2006 to show the aircraft in accurate, period RCAF P-51D colours, of 442 Squadron.
Select details as per the actual restored 'CF-VPM'
- Late WWII, square-tip Hamilton-Standard 'paddle' blades are installed.
- Two seats are installed, allowing for the carriage of a passenger.
- The front seat can be tilted forward/back, by clicking on either the top left or right locking pins.
- The guns have been removed, with the ports covered over in aluminum foil.
- Interior features varnished wood floor boards.
- The rear of the cockpit, from the upper longeron up, is painted flat black.
- The gear handle is painted silver/yellow, and the flap handle is painted entirely yellow.
- Wheel wells and gear doors are finished per the restored aircraft.
SOUND FEATURES
An Authentic and Accurate Sound Pack of the Unique Packard Merlin Engine.
84 hours of recordings and mixing of real sounds from the real Packard Merlin have been mixed from two separate sources. Carefully recorded to gain the accuracy of the exhaust sound of the unique Merlin V1650 Engine with its characteristic growl.
Two flights were made in a restored P-51D to accurately record this wonderful sound.
At high throttle the engine attains peak torque. At full power the familiar 'growl' of the Merlin can be heard as different phases of engine power increase. Perfect for those with 5:1 surround systems; the sound of the engines peak torque tone curves can clearly be heard above its clean characteristic sound as it flies by on high speed passes during displays that you will be happy to give to pleased spectators.
-Authentic Engine Firing sounds
-Accurate start and shut down
-Sounds from outside taken using carefully positioned microphones in flight
-Additional famous Gunport Whine
Sounds inside the cockpit have been recorded both on the ground, during and up to take off and in flight with many sound characteristics also recorded as they were heard including buffetting, wind noises, creaks and the clank of metal against ground.
3D MODELING OUTSIDE
-The most accurate exterior model of a P-51D ever seen in computer form, created using original engineering drawings, dimensions, & cross-reference photos.
-Distinctive areas such as the nose, tail, wing, radiator scoop, and spine are modeled to a degree of accuracy never before seen.
-All fasteners, screws, spot-welds, bolts, rivets, & seams are accounted for, & accurately recreated.
-The characteristic and distinct laminar wing airfoil is accurately modeled.
-Plastic canopies, of both Inglewood & Dallas forms, are accurately modeled to the Nth degree, using original engineering drawings of the Inglewood type, and profile photos of the Dallas type.
-Landing gear & landing gear doors are faithfully modeled, including proper strake-angle and accurate oleo compression with weight, & feature all original markings, stencils, and placards, using original engineering drawings of the gear doors and profile photos of the Bendix/Menasco gear legs.
-All wheels and tires are modeled using a complete set of actual dimensions, along with profile photos of the real articles.
-Landing gear retraction/extension animations feature accurate phased delay to exact timing.
-Inner "clam-shell" landing gear doors drop when the hydraulic pressure T-handle is pulled. This, a practice to prevent wear to the hydraulic system. As properly kept-up aircraft, the flaps will not droop after shutdown (Just as in the real aircraft, you cannot lower the flaps simply by activating the emergency hydraulic release. If Mustang's hydraulic system is not in top form, the flaps will droop down over time, after shut down, but may take hours before it is noticeable).
-Flaps will accurately deploy/retract with available hydraulic pressure.
-.50 cal. machine guns are accurately textured and properly staggered along the wing leading edges.
-Per restoration, both cuffed and square-tip Hamilton Standard propellers are accurately modeled.
-An accurately modeled set of Aeroproducts prop blades and unique spinner are featured in the P-51K.
-Wing hard points are modeled in detail, including sway braces mounted to the shackles.
-Individual exhaust stack are fully modeled using profile photos of the real stacks.
-The pilot relief tube exit is accurately modeled at the lower end of the tail, on those restorations which feature this detail.
-The static ground wire is accurately modeled at the lower end of the tail on stock-restored examples, which is effected by speed and ground contact.
-Both coolant and oil cooler doors, all trim tabs, gear doors, and gear legs, feature animated push-rods, and in proper cases, animated hydraulic cylinders.
-The structure of the gear wells is accurately modeled and textured unlike ever seen before, with all proper ribs and stringers, rivets and bolts, and individual finishes according to each restoration.
-The pilot model features both modern and period head-gear, changeable from within the cockpit.
-Examples with tail warning radar installed feature an accurately modeled radar antenna array on the vertical tail.
-A full compliment of effects includes lighting, start-up, dirt taxi, and landing.
3D MODELING INSIDE
(note: 'Happy Jack's Go Buggy' is used as one example here)
(COCKPIT LOOK AROUND FROM LEFT TO RIGHT)
-Map & Data Case
-Flare Cartridge Bag
-Flare Pistol Port
-Flap Handle
-Carburetor Air Controls
-Rudder Trim
-Aileron Trim
-Elevator Trim
-Gear Handle
-LH Cockpit Light
-Arm Rest
-Coolant Radiator Air Control Switch
-Oil Radiator Air Control Switch
-Landing Light Switch
-LH Cockpit Light Switch
-Throttle Lever
-Microphone Button
-Throttle & Prop Friction Controls
-Prop Lever
-Mixture Lever
-Left & Right Manual Payload Release Levers
-Supercharger Warning Light
-Fuel Booster Pump
-Oil Primer
-Starter Switch
-Fuel Primer
-Magneto Switch
-Payload Arming Switches
-Instrument Panel Light Switch
-Gear Position Indicator
-LH Instrument Panel Light
-Gunsight Power Switch
-Gunsight Reticle Fixed/Gyro Switch
-Directional Indicator Gauge
-Clock
-Suction Gauge
-Manifold Pressure Gauge
-Tachometer
-Coolant Temperature Gauge
-Carburetor Temperature Gauge
-Gyro Horizon
-Gyro Compass
-Airspeed Indicator
-Altimeter
-Turn and Bank Indicator
-Vertical Speed Indicator
-Oil & Fuel Gauge
-Oxygen Flow Blinker
-Oxygen Pressure Gauge
-Aircraft Restriction Placard
-Fuel Cutoff Lever
-Fuel Tank Selector
-Hydraulic Release T-Handle
-Hydraulic Pressure Gauge
-Spare Bulbs Bracket
-Oxygen Regulator
-Canopy Emergency Release Handle
-Canopy Crank
-Recognition Light Key
-RH Instrument Panel Light
-RH Cockpit Light Switch
-Generator & Battery Switches
-Gun Heat Switch
-Pitot Heat Switch
-Position Lights Switches
-Recognition Lights Switches
-Tail Warning Radar Power
-Tail Warning Radar Test
-SCR-522 Radio Control Box
-RH Cockpit Light
-IFF Power Switch
-Detonator Switches
-F-Band Switch
-G-Band Switch
-Radio Circuit Breaker Switches
-Emergency Coolant Door Release Handle
-Signal Light Power Receptacle
-Cold Air Control
-Hot Air Control
-Defroster Control
-LH Fuel Gauge
-RH Fuel Gauge
-K-14A Gun Sight
-Gun Sight Range Dial
(COCKPIT FACING AFT)
-Armor Back Plate
-Fuselage Fuel Gauge
-SCR-522 Radio Set
-Battery
-Fuel Plumbing
-Fuel Tank
MODERN RADIO PANEL & VOR GAUGE HEAD
Modeled to match a common, typical radio panel seen on many of the restored P-51D's in the world today, this modern radio panel is intentionally positioned to minimize the removal of any original WWII equipment, just as is the case in the real-world examples. The panel itself is modeled with a full compliment of working and fully adjustable Transponder, Comm 1, Comm 2, and Nav Radios. An avionics power switch, mounted on the radio panel, allows one to control power directly to all of the radios. Alongside the radios is a full compliment of working circuit breakers, to turn on and off the individual radios. Indicator lights shine to allow the pilot to know which Comm radios are functioning. Also mounted to the radio panel is an Oil Pressure warning light, and an Oil Bypass warning light. A VOR gauge head is available in each model, and is fully functional according to the type, working hand-in-hand with the Nav radio on the radio panel. In most variants, a stock gauge cover plate is installed on the instrument panel by default, though when clicked upon, the VOR gauge head will appear. In other select variants, the gauge will be installed by default, according to the restoration.
FLIGHT MODEL - WARNING: Highly sensitive flight model. (Stall it on a tight turn and you will spin like the P-51D manual warns)
"Snap Roll" also included into air model where pilot force a snap roll due to excessive speed, AOA, wrong weighting and COG pushing.
FORCE FX USERS NOTE
For those using Force FX Hardware. The buffet due to applying too much back-pressure on the control column will be felt throughout the different speed ranges.
SPECIAL FEATURES
DROP TANKS
Install tanks if needed for long flights or display. If need be, they may be ARMED and RELEASED, or simply uninstalled.
PILOT HEAD-GEAR
The pilot's head-gear may be manual chosen, either modern or period.
CLAM-SHELL DOOR RELEASE
As procedures followed by the real pilots, following shut down, the hydraulic t-handle may be pulled, allowing the landing gear clam-shell doors to deploy within seconds.
K-14A GUN SIGHT
As per given flight conditions, the gun sight if installed, may be removed or added back into the cockpit by the user. |
