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  • Please see the most recent updates in the "Where did the .com name go?" thread. Posts number 16 and 17.

    Post 16 Update

    Post 17 Warning

CA-18 Mk.23 Mustang "Duffy's Delight"

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SOH-CM-2025
Here is a description and imagery of the RAAF Museum's CA-18 Mk.23 Mustang "Duffy's Delight" as included in Warbirdsim's latest release, "P-51D Restored Part 2".

Manufactured under license by the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation, in Australia, CA-18 Mk.23 A68-170 was received by the RAAF in February, 1950, and went into storage with No. 1 Aircraft Depot Detachment B at Tocumwal NSW. In August of 1950, the aircraft was flown to RAAF Schofields, where it was first operated by No. 78 Wing. In April 1952, the aircraft was transferred to No. 2 Operational Training Unit, and then to No. 23 "City of Brisbane" Squadron in October 1953. A68-170 then returned to storage with No. 3 Aircraft Depot in October 1956. In 1959, the aircraft was approved for disposal, and withdrawn, but was held by the Queensland Flight of the Air Training Corps as an instructional trainer before being given to the RAAF Museum in September of 1970. The aircraft was restored to an almost flyable condition under the guidance of the senior Engineering Officer, Squadron Leader Kevin Duffy, and it was at this time that the aircraft gained it's nickname, "Duffy's Delight". Remaining on static display at the museum until 1990, a restoration program was started in 1991, to finally return the aircraft to full airworthy status. In 1999, the restoration was complete, and the aircraft flew once again, registered as VH-SVU. The aircraft's paint scheme is that of a different RAAF Mustang, A68-750, AM-G, which was actually manufactured by North American Aviation, as P-51D-25-NT 44-84489. The aircraft is based at Point Cook, Australia, and continues to be an air show favorite with its large shark-mouth nose.

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Just as on all CAC-manufactured Mustangs, the cockpit is painted in "Bronze Green" - quite a different shade of green than that of "Interior Green" as originally used by NAA.

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Are there plans for more Aussie repaints? There are many P-51s that have been restored and flying here in Australia. One that comes to mind is A68-107/VH-AUB owned by Ross Pay at Scone. At one stage it was painted in an overall red scheme.

I may be able to provide some screenies for you if needed.

Or is there a paintkit coming?

Cheers
Pat
 
Hi Pat,

It was definitely a hard choice at first to nail down one particular Aussie-based Mustang to include in the product. I was at one time even considering VH-JUC, though Albert and I both together really liked VH-SVU. There will be a paint kit coming in just a matter of time - likely a matter of weeks. I have been making some great headway on it lately - it will allow you to paint any of the models covered, in their various forms and variation details.
 
Hi Craig,

As with all of the aircraft we have covered, I have tried to match the configurations of the real-world aircraft as best as I can, and if a particular aircraft is never fitted with a gun sight in real life, that is how I have it. "Duffy's Delight" is one of those Mustangs that never has had a K-14 installed, at least while as a current-day warbird. Some of the variants covered do sport K-14 gun sights either often, or from time to time, so I have copied this as well. Many airworthy Mustang operators that do have sights in their aircraft, it is up to the type of flight or the type of air show, that the gun sight is fitted or not. Without the sight in place, you can have much better forward visibility and head-room - essential for display flights.
 
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