"Precious Metal".....P51D with Mega Monster RR Griffon Engine.....!!!
 

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Tucked away in the corner of Kissimmee airport is a Hanger in which a hard working dedicated team of people are sweating away in the Florida heat to put a very special P51 back into the air ready for Reno 2011.

This Mustang has flown before......and has crashed before ( Belly landing ) at an earlier Reno race meeting few years back. The airframe has been modified with clipped wings and a re-shaped "streamlined" cockpit. The owner Thom Richard will race her in the Unlimited class this year.

The streamling and engine combination was completed prior to purchase by
the owner. but and a BIG BUT....its what she is being prepaired for now that makes pure Aeroporn and dribble factor....

The Team have taken out the Monster RR Griffon V12 and are now fitting a MEGA MONSTER GRIFFON 57/58 V12 ex Miss Budweiser Racing Boat Fame.....!!!

This engine is (Quote) " Like no other Griffon, modified to the max , fitted with a Huge supercharger and ticks over like a Harley on Methanol "

Good luck to Thom Richard Racing Team for Reno this year, here are a few build picture's........................







What no motor.......?


http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/...4/P1000165.jpg


Ah......The Beast............!!

http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/...4/P1000162.jpg


Modified "Steamliner Cockpit"..............


http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/...4/P1000163.jpg


The Gear in the Rear...............

http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/...4/P1000168.jpg


Two are better than one....................!


http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/...4/P1000166.jpg


The Beast is Home....................!


http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/...4/P1000703.jpg


Suck Squeeze Bang Blow............!


http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/...4/P1000704.jpg


Nose Art...........!!!.......................


http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/...4/P1000701.jpg


Nearly there.................


http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/...4/P1000706.jpg


How she once looked.....................


http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/...apeimage_2.jpg



You Tube link......In previous Hands....Awsome Sound !!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVWmI1PMUUs

Ive seen alot of project builds being on car forums 1000bhpp toyota supras ect but never an Aircraft one ............ lot of spanner time must have went in to this ............. would love a read at the full thing.


Nice post :D

Awsome Wildboar! What a beast. Couldn't call her a beauty, but she still has the potensial to give me a good hard-on!

sweeeet pics willboar!!!!millions thx to share!!

Tell the truth, I don't like this. Its an abomination. Same reason I don't like the pimped american muscle cars with huge 22" crome wheels and monsterous engines. I like historic originality.

Thanks Guy's..........only a rumor and definately not to be repeated but she is expected to produce 3000+ horse power !! :-P:-P

Blimey...

Yup is true what you say Mr Pope, a classic is a classic , pure and simple , but if you could see the dedication this team put into the work you would be impressed . The wings were from a sold off gate gardian, once very poor condition , the airframe ?... no one really knows apart from built in 1949 from composite parts. The Griffon ..?... saved from the tractor pullin brigade who would blow her up and junk her when she failed in favour of another Griffon to rinse out until they are no more...........:(

This Baby will fly, and fly for the win and the pleasure of the crowd......if I was not scint from my last holiday...I would be packing my tooth brush and mankini just to stand on the flightline at Reno and chear her on ....!! :-P





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I guess you're right, Taking my nostalgic history hat off I can see it a new way. The P-51 was built for fighting and in a sense that is what this racing plane is still doing. And just as the original Alison engined Mustang mkI was developed and transformed to swich rolls and become the long range escort that was the P-51D, this P-51D has needed to change to take on its new racing roll.

Thanks Wildboar, You've now got me interested. I think now I would watch it too. But mankini? :| :lol:

By the way, What other planes compete in this race?

always been interested in the reno air races. just found out they used to have some great air races not far from me....have investigate and see if its true. i remember as a kid looking thru books at the Bee Gee air racers. built a couple models of them...the design was replicated by many post ww1 and early wwII fighters....does the I 16 come to mind?? airshows are awesome but i think i want to experience a good air race.