Jon A. Kingsley: Possibly the TF-51 once owned by Gordon Plaskett in the late 70's early 80's?


Marc Koelich: Could this be the cockpit of 44-84660, TF-660 ? The colour of the plane and position of the "F" and the upper left angle of the "6" match. This plane is reportedly a makeshift TF-51D, built by the Fuerza Aerea Salvadorena with the remains of FAS-400, a real TF-51D that crashed in late 1969, and FAS-402, a Cavalier F-51D Mustang II, that crashed in 1968.


Walter Lamb: It took me awhile, but now know the identity of this a/c. This is a P-51D-25NA, s/n 44-73458, c/n 122-39917, other identities: ex RCAF 9294, ex N6525D, ex N6347T, ex N554T, ex FAS 404; modified in FAS service to TF-51 to replace FAS 400 which was interned in Guatemala early during the "Soccer War". Then it crashed after an aborted take off. The wreckage was returned to the U.S. in '74 as N36FF by Jack Flaherty, then to John Herlihy in '75, passed on to Gordon Plaskett (as Mr. Kingsley noted) who restored it with parts from 44-74012 and re-registered it as N4151D. It then passed on to Ben Bradley, Basil Deuschle in '81, acquired by Don Whittington in '83 and I believe it was he who added the one piece wrap around windscreen, the feature that help nail this a/c down, (and probably the red interior). May have also attained the USAF paint scheme and buzz no. TF-660 during his ownership. Later acquired by Lone Star Museum in '87, then sold to Warbirds of Great Britain in '88. Owned by William Hane from '91 and now seems to be owned by Mustang Ltd. based in UK. Aircraft will likely remain in the US. In an article by Frederic Lert from an issue of "Flypast" says the aircraft was restored by Gosshawk Ltd. in Mesa, AZ. The interior was restored to more "stock" configuration and windscreen has been replaced with an original item. Engine was overhauled by V-12 Ltd. in California. Unfortunately I don't know the year this was carried out.