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Author Topic: Probably the best P-51D restoration to date  (Read 1347 times)

Offline Widewing

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Probably the best P-51D restoration to date
« on: December 17, 2013, 06:44:31 PM »
Using many WWII photos of Jack Ilfrey's P-51D, Happy Jack's Go Buggy, Crazy Horse aviation restored and painted a P-51 In Jack's colors. The attention to detail is stunning.

Here it is, flown by Vlado Lenoch in 2009. I've known Vlado for years. He owns his own P-51D and a T-33 as well. No better guy to fly this Mustang.

« Last Edit: December 17, 2013, 06:48:31 PM by Widewing »
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Widewing

YGBSM. Retired Member of Aces High Trainer Corps, Past President of the DFC, retired from flying as Tredlite.

Offline Widewing

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Re: Probably the best P-51D restoration to date
« Reply #1 on: December 17, 2013, 06:50:13 PM »
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Widewing

YGBSM. Retired Member of Aces High Trainer Corps, Past President of the DFC, retired from flying as Tredlite.

Offline Oldman731

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Re: Probably the best P-51D restoration to date
« Reply #2 on: December 17, 2013, 09:08:01 PM »
Wonder how they got the 108 gallon drop tanks.  Haven't ever seen those on a restoration plane before.

- oldman
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Offline Karnak

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Re: Probably the best P-51D restoration to date
« Reply #3 on: December 17, 2013, 09:10:42 PM »
Very nice.  Mustang looks small in that picture, more like the Spitfire dimensions it has on paper than the hulking Thunderbolt dimensions it seems to have on the ground.
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Offline Saxman

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Re: Probably the best P-51D restoration to date
« Reply #4 on: December 17, 2013, 09:57:12 PM »
It's nice to see an organization that actually takes care to get their restoration job right. Every time I see Marine's Dream it makes me throw up in my mouth a little.
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Offline Guppy35

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Re: Probably the best P-51D restoration to date
« Reply #5 on: December 17, 2013, 11:23:02 PM »
Quote from: Oldman731 on December 17, 2013, 09:08:01 PM
Wonder how they got the 108 gallon drop tanks.  Haven't ever seen those on a restoration plane before.

- oldman

Replicas made from molds taken from one of two original 108 gallon tanks still in existence
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Offline Guppy35

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Re: Probably the best P-51D restoration to date
« Reply #6 on: December 17, 2013, 11:25:08 PM »
Quote from: Widewing on December 17, 2013, 06:44:31 PM
Using many WWII photos of Jack Ilfrey's P-51D, Happy Jack's Go Buggy, Crazy Horse aviation restored and painted a P-51 In Jack's colors. The attention to detail is stunning.

Here it is, flown by Vlado Lenoch in 2009. I've known Vlado for years. He owns his own P-51D and a T-33 as well. No better guy to fly this Mustang.

(Image removed from quote.)

It was sad to see Vlado sell his 51 not too long ago.  The recent restoration of the Korean war painted 51D by the same bunch who did this one is amazing too.  Only 3 million dollars and it's yours :)
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Dan/CorkyJr
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Offline Widewing

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Re: Probably the best P-51D restoration to date
« Reply #7 on: December 18, 2013, 12:33:36 AM »
Quote from: Guppy35 on December 17, 2013, 11:25:08 PM
It was sad to see Vlado sell his 51 not too long ago.  The recent restoration of the Korean war painted 51D by the same bunch who did this one is amazing too.  Only 3 million dollars and it's yours :)

Vlado sold it to Frederik Akary, and it's based in France now. Is this the P-51D in Korean War colors you are referring to (see below)? If so, it was done by Mid-West Aero Restorations as was the rebuild of Ilfrey's clone. These guys can do a MIL-Spec rebuild like no others. I love the fact that they retain the pilot armor and preserve the original look.



Vlado at the controls....

« Last Edit: December 18, 2013, 12:45:28 AM by Widewing »
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My regards,

Widewing

YGBSM. Retired Member of Aces High Trainer Corps, Past President of the DFC, retired from flying as Tredlite.

Offline Widewing

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Re: Probably the best P-51D restoration to date
« Reply #8 on: December 18, 2013, 12:51:57 AM »






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My regards,

Widewing

YGBSM. Retired Member of Aces High Trainer Corps, Past President of the DFC, retired from flying as Tredlite.

Offline DaveBB

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Re: Probably the best P-51D restoration to date
« Reply #9 on: December 18, 2013, 05:17:57 AM »
Did any P-51s fly with that extreme polished aluminum during the war?  Seems like the plane would act as a signal mirror.
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Offline Puma44

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Re: Probably the best P-51D restoration to date
« Reply #10 on: December 18, 2013, 05:53:10 AM »
Great photos!  Thanks for posting!
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Offline mbailey

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Re: Probably the best P-51D restoration to date
« Reply #11 on: December 18, 2013, 05:55:57 AM »
I think i saw her down at the MAAM airshow last year.....maybe 2 yrs ago....nice bird for sure.

I really need to move up to that tax bracket....i think id do well there  :D
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Mbailey
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Offline GScholz

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Re: Probably the best P-51D restoration to date
« Reply #12 on: December 18, 2013, 09:23:44 AM »
Pretty thang! Thanks for posting!  :aok
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Offline Shifty

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Re: Probably the best P-51D restoration to date
« Reply #13 on: December 18, 2013, 09:28:07 AM »
That is a beautiful restoration of Jaqck Ilfery's bird. Here's another nice P-51 restoration and story.
307th FS 31st FG P-51 "February" and the pilot who flew her. If you've never seen the video it is well worth your
10 minutes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=OpsAaK0p0ig
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Offline mthrockmor

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Re: Probably the best P-51D restoration to date
« Reply #14 on: December 18, 2013, 09:36:44 AM »
These are great pics. I close my eyes I see my Fw-190A5 coming in from about their 5 O'clock, 100mph+ advantage, squeezing my trigger as the lead bird blows into chunks under the weight of the 20mm and bb's....

OK, back to the MA for me.

boo
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