Martin / Swiss Mustangs

February 15, 2005 at 00:06:28

This is 44-74012 that was delivered on 6 December 1950 to the RCAF as RCAF-9243; it saw service with No. 416 Sqn; sold after retirement in August 1959, it then adopted civil reg. N6519D; carried race #81 from 1968 - suffered emergency landing in 1974 (photo)- rebuild started and re-registered to C-GPSI in October 1976 but never completed; returned to the U.S: and rebuild completed. registered again N6519D in January 1984, I t is airworthy today, flying in 357th FG colors and is owned by James Smith of Kalispell MT. Martin Kyburz / Swiss Mustangs

Brad Haskin	March 04, 2005 at 11:34:52
I believe that's "Little Stevie Hinton's" handywork in that picture. The Mustang was restored/built by the late Ralph Payne for Leroy Penhall in 1969 as Race #81. Hinton was flying it for Penhall (at Oshkosh '74, I think) and had a take-off incident.

Ken Pedersen	March 14, 2005 at 20:43:20
Rockwell International was the plane flown by R.A.Bob Hoover in airshows. I believe It was wrecked by a ferry pilot between show. Don't know the date.

LCDR Carl McDonald, USN, (Ret.)	March 29, 2005 at 10:18:30
Does anyone have a pix of a '51 with a jumpseat behind the pilot - I recall that a few were modified to allow maintenance personnel to ride through demos. CGM

Grant Eaton

April 29, 2005 at 21:18:31

This is indeed the -51 flown by R.A."Bob" Hoover. I have a picture of myself sitting at the controls in this aircraft when he was flying it at various shows. My Father, Warren Eaton owned another warbird at the same time and we meet at Oskosh, Wi for the fly-in. He also flew a Rockwell AeroCommander and did acrobatics with it in various shows around the world. I don't know the date of this photo, but it is the same plane. it was the only -51 painted in the yellow with the black rockwell international logo. I will try to post the picture of it with "Bob Hoover" leaning over me at the controls. naturally this is just one of the many warbirds that he got to fly.

Steve Hinton	May 08, 2005 at 19:22:33
This picture was taken Aug 5 1974 along Hwy 35 near River Falls Wisc.

Tom Huismann	May 16, 2005 at 10:25:36
The airplane is Leroy Penhall's P-51. The airplane experienced an engine failure while Steven Hinton was flying the airplane. My father had flown the airplane the day before from Oshkosh to Eau Claire and return. While flying the airplane he noted that the oil pressure was a little high.

Robert Gollwitzer	November 02, 2005 at 19:20:46
Have more info on Jimmy DeSanto's P51K named ConnieIII flown at Cleveland 1948.It had clipprd wings Race #75 & N68183 on the wing. He blew a header tank trying to pull 100 inches. Does anyone know what happened to this plane?