My FMS F-51

[wvrailfan]

Got in a few flights with my FMS F-51 yesterday.https://vimeo.com/173003403


Jim

[Prowler901]

Nice flying, Jim. And, great work on the plane. She looks gorgeous.

[Flygirl]

Nice vid as usual Jim!!! Kind of fun to watch the aileron inputs as you were flying. It's really amazing how little aileron deflection is needed to control the plane. Good stuff and love the new livery!

[wvrailfan]

Thanks folks. 948 was assigned to the 167th FS of the WVANG, which traces it's linage to the 352nd FG, hence the blue spinner. The 167th was the last USAF unit flying Mustangs and in 1957 when Mustangs were officially retired, 948 was the plane used for the ceremony at Wright Patterson.
The plane is now on display at the Air Guard base in Charleston WV, though sadly, in poor condition.

[Dewey H Lee]

Great videos. Sad that such a historical plane is left without being cared for. Wish they would let me adopt it.

[rc-eflyer]

Nice smooth flying, especially considering you had all those cameras hanging everywhere ;).

Steve

[John Cirri]

They Do Fly Great, I Love my V7 https://youtu.be/aGZ03IyaLQs

[Grossman56]

We should adopt that plane! What a shame that it's deteriorating and nothing is being done. I can double dog guarantee you that if it were in my back yard, that plane would look like a jewel, I've polished DC3's, a P 51 would be no challenge!!

Grossman56

[Dewey H Lee]

Hell Dan I'd driver across country just to have the privilege to say I helped. Since I have gotten back in the hobby and meant the fine people hear a have a greater respect for not only the models we fly representing the pilots but also what's left of there equipment and heritage.

[wvrailfan]

The plane is inside a fenced area not readily accessible by the public. It has been painted gray and the spinner is the wrong color. None of the Guard members I spoke with were even aware the plane has any historic significance.

Because the park that I am a cop at is adjacent to the Air Guard base, I was allowed to get some photos of it for reference and then with it once my model was finished. There is a plaque in front of the plane stating that it is on loan from the USAF Museum.

I spoke with a fellow that wrote a book about the 167th, he told me a neat story about the retirement fly by. The Mustang pilot was chatting with the F-100 pilot that was going to fly formation with him for the ceremony. The Mustang pilot pointed out the age and poor condition of 948 and told the jet jockey "200 MPH, that's all we can do, 200MPH." The F-100 pilot agreed, the fly by would be a slow, but respectable for the old prop plane, 200 MPH.

The two planes flew in formation down the runway and as they got to the review stands where the VIPs were sitting the Mustang pilot shoved the throttle to full and pulled away from then up and away from the startled jet driver, in what was to be the last official "show off" move for a USAF Mustang.

Sometimes, I just love aviation history;-)

[Grossman56]

Pretty cool WV, don't you just love it when you can get a picture of the real thing in the background! BTW, does anyone know why they tail wheel was fixed, I noticed that in the movie Battle Hymn, that theirs were fixed as well, just curious.

Grossman56

[wvrailfan]

The tail wheel was fixed on the Mustangs late in their service life simply to reduce maintenance time and cost on what had become second line planes.

[Grossman56]

Ah, that makes sense, thanks WV.
Grossman56