Mrs Puma and I were invited along with other graduates of Staliions51's Mustang Training Course for their 30th Anniversary Celebration at Sun N fun. A couple days prior, Mustangs started arriving at Stallion51's facility at the Kissimmee Airport. By mid afternoon last Monday, there where 18 Mustangs on the ramp and in hangars. With a little imagination, it was easy to see a WWII fighter base. Couldn't have swung a dead cat without hitting a Mustang on the ramp or in a hangar.
If that wasn't enough, while sitting an airframe and maintenance seminar, my instructor from the check out program tapped me on the shoulder and said "come with me". When we got out of earshot, he said there was a four ship photo mission launching in a bit, he had an empty back seat, and did I want to go? My response, "when do we leave?" I was very honored to fly with some of the most talented Mustang pilots of our time, led by "Mr. Mustang" himself, Lee Lauderback. Lee has in excess of 9,000 hours in Mustangs. A few photos taken with the iphone 7.
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Mrs. Puma hanging out with Lee Lauderback on Crazy Horse.
And if all that wasn't enough top off the week, I had the pleasure of meeting WWII Mustang Ace, Bud Anderson. Bud said he had about 35 hours of Mustang time when he went into combat with it. He said most guys had 2-4 hours before combat. Prior to the Mustang, he had several hundred hours in the P-39 which he said helped experience wise transitioning to the Mustang.
When asked what advice he had for this newbie Mustang pilot, he said "keep it straight".
Lee preparing to do his Saturday sunset routine which he culminated with Bob Hoover's signature landing gear down roll to touch down maneuver.
