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The North American P-51 Mustang
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P-51 Who?   Case # 215
44-74502     N70QF     Closed
Solved by: Bob Burns, Jacques Bourguignon, Marc Koelich, Dave Zeuschel Jr.
P-51 Who 215
Case#: 215
Date: Nov 01 2002
By: Emil Strasser
Photo: courtesy WarbirdAeroPress.com
Status: Closed
Serial: 44-74502
Registry: N70QF
P-51 Who? Viewer Responses
Bob Burns:
11/06/2002 21:43
that's N70QF race 34 foxy lady later raced by john crocker N51VC sumthin else and is now N351DT Kentucky babe configured as a TF-51. I don't remember the year it arrived at Reno all black an then had the lettering put on in the pits..
Jacques Bourguignon:
11/07/2002 19:55
Case215 is Ken Burnstine's "Miss Foxy Lady" N70QF.
Burnstine bought this originally P-51D-30 registered N6321T for the 1974 Reno Race campaign. It had previously served with the Royal Canadian Air Force. Modifications seen on this picture were made at Chino Aiprort in the late Leroy Penhall's hanger.
Flight tested at Chino, this a/c was ferried to Reno where its registration was changed to N70QF, race number 34 assigned and the racer was christened "Miss Fox Lady".
Unfortunately, the airplane was put out of competition during this 1974 Reno Championship because of a backfire that had blown off the lower cowling and induction system. Ken finally won the race with his other P-51, race number 33, in which Ken died 2 years later after a crash before the 1976 Mojave race.
Marc Koelich:
11/08/2002 22:09
This is 44-74502, N07QF, Miss Foxy Lady, race34, when owned by Ken
Burnstine, seen probably before the number 34 and the girl were painted
on the fuselage.
It also flew in a white livery, still with No 34 and a different girl
painted on the rear fuselage.
Prior to being modified as a racer, this Mustang was RCAF 9232 and
N6321T.
It was later purchased by John Crocker and became N51VC, racer6, Sumthin
Else.
It was damaged in 1990 and was restored and converted to TF-51D between
1998 and 2000. It is now owned by Dick Thurman and flies as "Kentucky
Babe".
Dave Zeuschel Jr.:
11/10/2002 17:54
I believe the black modified P51 Mustang in the unsolved category is Ken Burnstein's Foxy Lady.
Greg Flowers
08/17/2023 02:45
The time was just before the 1974 Reno Air Races. My partner and I (we owned a Custom Sign Shop in Reno named "The Sign Factory) received a phone call from a man named Ken Burnstine. He said he was in town for the races and had a plane called Miss Foxy Lady entered. He needed some graphics painted on it and his only direction was that he wanted the name and number in gold leaf and a naked girl.

So, we came up with a naked girl to match his semi-crazy personality. Pretty sure that's why he loved our idea. Or, maybe he was just crazy. Found out later He had a thing for "naked" ladies.

The first year we painted it outside on the tarmac, the next year, we added the newer look with the second girl (on a white paint job). We were promised the comfort of a shaded hanger, but that didn't happen. Back to the tarmac again. Great party though. I was really disappointed when I finally heard about his death. I liked him. I read later about his colorful reputation, but he treated us very well.

Not long after that I painted another P51D for a man in Reno named Tony D'Alessandris who owned two D's. I added the livery to the second of the two, an Allison Powered beast. The distinctive marking was a Red Pegasus Horse on the cowl. Allison Logo? I believe it's currently owned by a gentleman named Wiley Sanders. Couldn't track it any further. That was a fun time too. Great people!
Case Closed!
P-51 Mustang

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