The P-51 Mustang

This is the Palm Springs Air Museum's P-51D Mustang.  

History: This P-51D was built in 1945 and put in storage along with numerous others. It was part of 130 mustangs that the Royal Canadian Air Force purchased from the USAF. The RCAF flew them from 1946 to 1961.

The Palm Springs Air Museum purchased it from a broker and, as a tribute to the Tuskegee Airmen and Lt. Col. Bob Friend, painted it in the "red tail" colors with "Bunny", after Bob's wife.

Bunny competed in the 2017 Reno Air Races in the Warbird Class and did very well.

In January 2018, the FAA licensed the museum to carry passengers in the Mustang.

Ready to go

This is the GIB (guy in back) strapped in and ready to go.

Engine Start and Taxi

This video was taken by Ian who is no longer standing on the wing.

The motion of the propeller seems strange because the video was taken at 30 frames per second, while the propeller is turning at about 16 revolutions per second at idle.  

You may want to lower the volume on your speakers.

Last minute check before engine start

Another view of Ian on the wing, talking with Mike, the Pilot. Mike is finishing his pre-start checklist.

Departure for the Maneuvering Area

Another video by the GIB. We are about 1500 feet above ground level. We have turned around and heading toward the Salton Sea, about 30 miles south-east of the airport.

The airport is visible on the left side of the frame.

This is typical of the terrain where we did the flight maneuvers. Desolate and remote. We stayed over the mountains.

Flight Maneuvers

The pilot selected a remote area of desert mountains south of Jacqueline Cochran Airport and west of the Salton Sea. There we did a number of fighter maneuvers culminating with two chandelles. A chandelle is an aircraft control maneuver where the pilot combines a 180° turn with a climb.

The first chandelle was a very steep climb and turn to the left at the top, followed by a steep dive to regain airspeed. The second chandelle, featured a turn to the right, followed by another dive.

Think of your wildest roller-coaster ride and double it.

The GIB was too involved with G-forces to take  photos or videos of these maneuvers.

On the Way Home

We are headed for the barn and the GIB is taking photos again. Our position is about two miles northeast of his house in Indian Wells.

The airport is dead ahead to the northwest at about 12 miles.

Landing at Palm Springs

The pilot made a low approach flying 1000 feet above the runway, just for show. The museum is busy on a Saturday and visitors flock to the ramp to see the Mustang pass.

After the pass, we made a steep right break to  downwind for landing.

The video shows the downwind leg and landing. The runway is on our right.

It was about 30 minutes from engine start to shutdown.

Takeoff

The GIB took this video of the takeoff and climb to pattern altitude.

Ian, the official museum photographer, is standing on the wing. You can make out the passenger's white hat in the back seat.