Farewell Contrary Mary
The 2023 airshow season was the last opportunity to see the TF-51 Mustang ‘Contrary Mary’ of the Ultimate Warbird Flights on the European skies. The aircraft has been dismantled and is on the way to the new owner in the USA.
The full dual control TF-51D Mustang “Contrary Mary” 44-84847, G-TFSI of the Ultimate Warbird Flights at Sywell, UK, was a common sight at the airshows all across the UK and Europe flying solo displays as well as a part of the Ultimate Fighters display team flying together with other iconic World War II aircraft. Besides display flying the Contrary Mary was used for passenger flights, giving paying customers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to fly the Mustang. The registration G-TFSI has already been cancelled from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) register and the aircraft is destined to receive a new livery, as the identity of 'WZ-I' was already roughly removed.
The departure of Contrary Mary will make room for the new aircraft that will soon join the Ultimate Warbird Flights fleet, the Australian-built Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation CA-18 Mustang VH-MFT “Snifter” which will receive a new scheme before joining the Air Leasing / Ultimate Warbirds pleasure flying fleet.
G-TFSI “Contrary Mary”
G-TFSI was one of the last Mustangs constructed at North American’s Dallas Plant in 1944 and assigned the serial number 44-84847. Serving with the 45th Tactical Reconnaissance Sqn. At Kimpo, South Korea in 1951 before being shipped back to the U.S to serve with the Air National Guard. In 1999 44-84847 was restored in North Dakota. The following year she was shipped to the UK and joined The Fighter Collection in the colour scheme 55th Fighter Group. Capt. Frank Birciel’s ‘Miss Velma’. She then moved to new owners Anglia Aircraft Restorations Ltd and was repainted in the colours of the RAF Duxford-based ‘Contrary Mary’.
VH-MFT “Snifter”
VH-MFT was built by Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation (CAC) in Melbourne in 1948. Constructors Number 1435. It was delivered to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as a CA-18 Mark 21 Mustang serial number A68-170. On February 20, 1948, delivered to 1 Air Depot (1 AD) and stored at Benalla Airfield, Tocumwal Airfield and East Sale. Afterwards, stricken off charge and on August 24, 1957, sold for scrap. Restoration During 2002, restored to flying condition owned by Mustang Pty Ltd registered in Australia as VH-MFT. Restored in the markings of RAAF Mustang A68-769 nicknamed "Snifter" with the nose art of a red pegasus inside a blue circle with a small white dog to the side. Also "Mabel II" below the left side of the cockpit with fuselage code "FA".
