Bomber_12th
SOH-CM-2025
I find that with the addition of six 5-in HVAR rockets, the Mustang's look of lethality is exponentially greater...Here is a description and imagery of Warbirdsim's recreation of the P-51D-25-NA painted as "USAF FF-704", registered N6168C, as featured in the just released Part 2 product.
Manufactured at the NAA Inglewood plant in 1945, P-51D-25-NA, 44-73704, likely was manufactured too late to see service during WWII. Following WWII, and some likely storage time, the aircraft served with the USAF ANG. An accident report from December, 1952, indicates that this aircraft was in a California ANG unit at the time. As with most surviving Mustangs, the aircraft was eventually surplused, and came on the US civil register in the early 1960's, as N6168C, owned by Plauche Electric Inc, of Lake Charles, LA. In 1968, the aircraft was damaged in a forced, off airport landing, with wheels up. The registration for the aircraft was changed to Marvin "Lefty" Gardner, of Gardner Flyers Inc, Brownwood & Mercedes, TX, in 1970. Under the ownership of Lefty Gardner, the aircraft was painted as "Thunderbird - Race 25", a brilliant red, white & blue scheme. In 1976, Lefty raced the aircraft to a 1st place finish in the Gold Unlimited Race at Reno. In 1994, the aircraft was sold to Lewis Shaw, who had the aircraft fully restored at Ezell Aviation. The rebuild saw the aircraft returned to original military configuration, and finished as an early 1950's era ANG F-51D. The markings that adorn the aircraft, are a combination that symbolize both the aircraft's and the owner's history in the USAF. This aircraft makes for a very unique display where ever it goes, complete with a full compliment of 5-in HVAR rockets and 75-gallon drop tanks. The thick, Aeroproducts paddle blade props, are of P-51H originality - a left-over from its racing days. While painted in a light gray primer, the cockpit is very stock. Debuting the aircraft at Sun N' Fun, 1999, the aircraft won the "Best P-51" award. A couple years later, at EAA Airventure, Oshkosh, the aircraft won the "Preservation Award".
Note the large but very thin-cross section Aeroproducts prop blades, as originally fitted to the P-51H. They slot into the same prop spinner as designed for the P-51K with the WWII-era 'toothpick' Aeroproducts blades. The spinner places the blades themselves a bit further forward than that of the Hamilton Standard prop/spinner assembly.
Manufactured at the NAA Inglewood plant in 1945, P-51D-25-NA, 44-73704, likely was manufactured too late to see service during WWII. Following WWII, and some likely storage time, the aircraft served with the USAF ANG. An accident report from December, 1952, indicates that this aircraft was in a California ANG unit at the time. As with most surviving Mustangs, the aircraft was eventually surplused, and came on the US civil register in the early 1960's, as N6168C, owned by Plauche Electric Inc, of Lake Charles, LA. In 1968, the aircraft was damaged in a forced, off airport landing, with wheels up. The registration for the aircraft was changed to Marvin "Lefty" Gardner, of Gardner Flyers Inc, Brownwood & Mercedes, TX, in 1970. Under the ownership of Lefty Gardner, the aircraft was painted as "Thunderbird - Race 25", a brilliant red, white & blue scheme. In 1976, Lefty raced the aircraft to a 1st place finish in the Gold Unlimited Race at Reno. In 1994, the aircraft was sold to Lewis Shaw, who had the aircraft fully restored at Ezell Aviation. The rebuild saw the aircraft returned to original military configuration, and finished as an early 1950's era ANG F-51D. The markings that adorn the aircraft, are a combination that symbolize both the aircraft's and the owner's history in the USAF. This aircraft makes for a very unique display where ever it goes, complete with a full compliment of 5-in HVAR rockets and 75-gallon drop tanks. The thick, Aeroproducts paddle blade props, are of P-51H originality - a left-over from its racing days. While painted in a light gray primer, the cockpit is very stock. Debuting the aircraft at Sun N' Fun, 1999, the aircraft won the "Best P-51" award. A couple years later, at EAA Airventure, Oshkosh, the aircraft won the "Preservation Award".
Note the large but very thin-cross section Aeroproducts prop blades, as originally fitted to the P-51H. They slot into the same prop spinner as designed for the P-51K with the WWII-era 'toothpick' Aeroproducts blades. The spinner places the blades themselves a bit further forward than that of the Hamilton Standard prop/spinner assembly.
: