Here is a slew of photos of various examples of the P-51H.
First, here is a selection of photos of 44-64415, which still flies today, owned by the Whittington brothers (since 1978). As can be seen, the aircraft started out life assigned to the NACA as a test-bed, as NACA 130. In its civilian life, it has had a few different paint scheme, and since 1978 it has been (loosely) painted to resemble the P-51H that was sent to the Britain for evaluation.
Second, here are some photos of 44-64314, that also still flies today, owned by the Coutches family (painted as 44-64551) - purchased by Mike Coutches (known as "Mustang Mike") in 1966, who in his lifetime has owned over 30 different Mustangs, at one time or another.
The Coutches family has another P-51H, 44-64203, which up until this year had only been rumored to exist. The fuselage had been in Mike Coutches' garage since the 70's, under periodic restoration, and the wings had been stored in a crate, covered in preservative. This aircraft is now under active restoration to fly.
Some Repaint Inspiration
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Some Repaint Inspiration
John Terrell
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Re: Some Repaint Inspiration
And here are additional images, of various in-service H-models (in no particular order).
(Early example (2nd produced) retained for flight testing - red spinner - there were no 'prototype' H-models, and production started with 44-64160.)
(I believe the tail on this one is yellow)
(Early example (2nd produced) retained for flight testing - red spinner - there were no 'prototype' H-models, and production started with 44-64160.)
(I believe the tail on this one is yellow)
Last edited by Bomber_12th on 07 Sep 2015, 06:24, edited 1 time in total.
John Terrell
Re: Some Repaint Inspiration
Outstanding primary sources I love the first one - both her "test" paint sheme and two civilian schemes.
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Re: Some Repaint Inspiration
BTW, if you ever come across photos of P-51H's flying with their tailwheels down, it is because there was a Technical Order issued in January 1953 which ordered that all of the tailwheels on all Mustangs still in operation within the USAF at that time (just ANG by that point), had to be locked in the down position, as there were some failures of the tailwheel to come down - of course resulting in damage that otherwise didn't need to happen. In non-flying shots, you can also tell which ones have the tailgear locked down, as the tailwheel doors were also removed. The P-51H tail gear design is entirely different than that of the D-model, but the T.O. was issued for all Mustangs across the board.
Last edited by Bomber_12th on 06 Sep 2015, 16:27, edited 1 time in total.
John Terrell
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Re: Some Repaint Inspiration
A couple of the examples in the black & white pictures above, would look like this in color (which I quite like - this being from around 1946):
John Terrell
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Re: Some Repaint Inspiration
Any repaint of the MASS ANG livery would be most welcome!
Thanks to A2A for another wonderful addition to my hangar!
Thanks to A2A for another wonderful addition to my hangar!
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Re: Some Repaint Inspiration
The second one in the above photos is actually a TF-51D (dual control P-51D with the taller/extended tail fin cap designed/used by the NACA and later copied on other post-WWII modified Mustangs (and no, it's not a P-51H tail)). That aircraft unfortunately doesn't exist in one piece any longer, having been involved in a fatal crash about 2 1/2 years ago. http://www.mustangsmustangs.com/p-51/?s ... l/44-73458
John Terrell
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