Thinking of a P-51 flight

[Gliderjohn]

Anyone here done it? I sent an inquiry to take a flight in Stallion 51. Also looking at Crazy Horse. Stallion 51 seems to really want to try to give you a hands on experience as possible aligned to your skill level. One of those once in a life time experiences that needs to be done while I still can. Chuck or Mike, any advice?
GliderJohn

[Gliderjohn]

The Stallion 51 is a dual control and I think Crazy Horse may be but not sure.
GliderJohn

[davedel44]

Hell yahhhhhh!

Dave
Galveston

[Gliderjohn]

rodekyll:

Why would you not?   

Cost makes one think twice but one only goes through this life once.
GliderJohn

[Texas Turnip]

Did you ever see a Brinks truck following a hearse?

Tex

[Gliderjohn]

Good point Tex!
GliderJohn

[Roebling3]

Leading a refueling unit in the Air Force in the mid 50's I was around them all the time. Finally got a ride in a friends P-51D in 1983. Tandem w/no controls in the back seat. W/out armor, the original radio and a 45 gl. fuel tank, it was almost roomy. I always wanted to be that close to a Merlin engine, working hard. Huge thrill. 
   Best wishes toward the ride of your life, GJ.  R3~ 

[jas67]

If you can swing the price, do it!
As you said, you only go around once.

@Roebling3 -- 45 gallon fuel tank?   That's it?    How long does that last, 45 minutes?

[John A]

with only 100 low lead they don't work them hard but that's still a hell of a power to weight ratio. 

[Roebling3]

I've wondered for years how much a P-51 weighs sans armor, guns, etc. (Not as light as a pylon racer). The performance may not be too degraded on 100 octane. We only could give them 130. 145 was reserved for a few twin radials. A friend has a C 45, still in its military paint. All he can get is Mogas. Those 2 Pratts don't seem to mind.
For 150 bux each he takes 4 plus me to Martha's Vineyard for breakfast. I don't go often. It's way too much fun. R3~

[Gliderjohn]

55 inches of manifold pressure appears to be the max 100 octane as compared to 61. As Roebling3 pointed out the plane would loose substantial weight w/o guns and ammo. I imagine would be close to 1,000 pounds including mounting hardware, etc.
GliderJohn

[Chuck in Indiana]

My good friend Julio, who died at 34 (!)  said, "They don't put no pockets in them shrouds, man.."

The performance on 100LL will be just fine. Hang on.. 

[Roebling3]

Jas67, others?
The seat tank was 45 gallons. Wing tanks held more than 100 gal. each side, iirc. They could also carry external fuel, in drop tanks, depending on external armament.  R3~ 

[jdgretz]

Anyone here done it? I sent an inquiry to take a flight in Stallion 51. Also looking at Crazy Horse. Stallion 51 seems to really want to try to give you a hands on experience as possible aligned to your skill level. One of those once in a life time experiences that needs to be done while I still can. Chuck or Mike, any advice?
GliderJohn

I have not, but a friend of mine goes a couple of times a year and has racked up close to 100hrs in one.  He loves it (obviously).  Warbirds International in Fl also just got a dual cockpit/dual control P-40.

Enjoy - it's something you'll never regret. 

jdg <-- still has very fond memories of his two hours in the back of an F-4

[Fireflyr]

I got a ride with Art Vance on my 26th birthday in Million Dollar Baby about 6 months before I started Army flight school.  I'll never forget that flight.

[John Croucher]

This is on my bucket list.  P-51 specifically.  Motor with wings.  And then put in hydro plans and raced on the Ohio River.  The sound of 3,200 h.p., 200 mph,  I will never forget in Madison, Indiana. 

[Unkept]

The P-51 is legendary, and I wouldn't hesitate if I had the opportunity. 

[motoTommaso]

<Humble Brag alert>

My wife bought me a flight in Vergeltungswaffe for my 40th birthday.  It was flown by Hess Bomberger http://www.americanairmuseum.com/person/7746 who had it painted like the one he flew from Martlesham Heath in the 356th Fighter Squadron in WWII.  No dual controls but it had a back seat where the fuselage tank and vacuum tube radio originally were situated.  He still had the gyro gunsite in it and we "bounced" an unsuspecting Piper PA-28 in the pattern

Apparently it has now been converted to dual controls as is available as "Little Witch" at Stallion 51.
http://www.stallion51.com/mustang-flight-ops/little-witch/

I can't recommend it highly enough.  It was much smoother than I had imagined.  The watercooled V-12 Merlin is nothing like an aircooled radial.  "Cadillac of the Skies" indeed.  Life is short and money comes and goes. 

[Gliderjohn]

Thanks for the heads up. If I go through with it Stallion 51 is the organization I will probably use. They appear to run a first class deal there.
GliderJohn

[John Croucher]

Thanks for the heads up. If I go through with it Stallion 51 is the organization I will probably use. They appear to run a first class deal there.
GliderJohn

What is the approximate cost to do the P51 Orientation Flight?  Is pre flight experience required?  I attended flight school for 2 years 38 years ago.  Had to quit due to Ménière's disease. Planning a trip to Florida in late October and would to check this off my bucket list, since Motus is going out of business.

[Gliderjohn]

Here is a link to their site.
http://www.stallion51.com/
30 minute flight was in the mid 2K range and an hour in the mid 3k. Includes preflight orientation and post flight debrief. Also three different videos. Sounds like if you are reasonably health you should be fine and no previous flight experience required.
GliderJohn

[stubbie]

The Australian Air Force use the P51E as there trainers. They fly over my house quite often from the air base about 25 km's away. Sounds great when there is about 6 or more flying together.

[John A]

My good friend Julio, who died at 34 (!)  said, "They don't put no pockets in them shrouds, man.."

The performance on 100LL will be just fine. Hang on.. 

My point was not that you wouldn't be impressed with the performance but to imagine what is was like without the constraints of trying not to be too hard on equipment.

[Chuck in Indiana]

My point was not that you wouldn't be impressed with the performance but to imagine what is was like without the constraints of trying not to be too hard on equipment.

Good point. A little "mechanical sympathy" is definitely in order..
A guy told me one time that "Every time I fly it, something breaks. There is nothing that costs less than $1000 on this thing." 
It's above my pay grade..

[Sheepdog]

55 inches of manifold pressure appears to be the max 100 octane as compared to 61. As Roebling3 pointed out the plane would loose substantial weight w/o guns and ammo. I imagine would be close to 1,000 pounds including mounting hardware, etc.
GliderJohn

Don't those engines include aquahol injection to control combustion chamber heat? The one I saw at the Olympia Airshow was doing some impressive low altitude aerobatics. With less fuel and no ordnance, I expect that these coddled warbirds are at least as fast as the versions used in combat.

[Gliderjohn]

From Sheepdog:

With less fuel and no ordnance, I expect that these coddled warbirds are at least as fast as the versions used in combat.

When I took the B-17 flight a couple of years ago they said that even on takeoff they never exceed 60% power unless there is a compelling reason. During our flight we cruised at 130mph. Mission cruise speeds would have been in the 160-180 mph range. Check the manifold pressures  and rpm gauges in the picture.



GliderJohn

[jas67]

From Sheepdog:
When I took the B-17 flight a couple of years ago they said that even on takeoff they never exceed 60% power unless there is a compelling reason. During our flight we cruised at 130mph. Mission cruise speeds would have been in the 160-180 mph range. Check the manifold pressures  and rpm gauges in the picture.



GliderJohn

What is the gauge below the left tachometer?

[Chuck in Indiana]

I have no idea, but since it is near the landing gear switch, maybe something to do with that?

[larrys]

Do it! I got a ride in a friends T6. Had to pitch in $200 for fuel but it sure was worth it.
Larry

[Gliderjohn]

Currently I am thinking of doing the T-6 as it will cost less than a fourth of what the P-51 flight costs and one will be giving rides next weekend about 60 miles form me, so we will see. I would guess that a T-6 will give me 80% of the thrills that the P-51 would.
GliderJohn