crash at duxford today [2011]

[Sternjaeger II]

Originally Posted by swiss

So it would be a completely new AC, with the old reg though.
What's so important about the reg?

Well one thing is a restoration of an existing aircraft,which was registered under an aviation authority (the German one in this specific case,since the plane had just been bought) and was classified under "North American Aviation P-51D Mustang",and another is building a mustang from nothing,which in the US would go under the Expedimental category,but won't be accepted in Europe. Truth is that it's the same thing,cos it will be an extensive rebuild of the plane,but if you manage to save a minor part of the original hull,you can still claim it as the original machine. The fact that BBD didn't catch fire means that someone will buy the wreck and build himself a Mustang from scratch,using other parts from other planes and a zeroed Merlin,it's only aatter of time. There are genuine warbirds out there,and reassembled ones,which are as good (if not better!) than the others,but dont have a pedigree.
Back in the days it didnt really matter,but now collectors look into this a lot.