Mustang G-TFSI
G-TFSI is a significant Mustang with a rich history. It was built at North America's Dallas Plant in 1944 and was one of the last Mustangs to be produced. The aircraft was given the serial number 44-84847 and served with the 45th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron at Kimpo, South Korea, in 1951. After this service, it was shipped back to the US, where it was used by the Air National Guard.
In 1999, 44-84847 was restored in North Dakota to its former glory, and the following year, it was transported to the UK to join The Fighter Collection. The aircraft was then painted in the color scheme of Capt. Frank Birciel's "Miss Velma" of the 55th Fighter Group, before being transferred to Anglia Aircraft Restorations Ltd, where it was repainted in the colors of the RAF Duxford based 'Contrary Mary'.
The full dual control TF-51D Mustang "Contrary Mary" was a regular sight at airshows across the UK and Europe. It was a true crowd-pleaser, performing solo displays as well as being part of the Ultimate Fighters display team, flying alongside other iconic World War II aircraft until late 2023. The aircraft was meticulously maintained and was a tribute to the skilled craftsmen who originally built it.
In December 2023, Contrary Mary was dismantled and shipped to a new owner in the USA. Despite its departure, the legacy of this historic aircraft will live on, as it remains an important part of aviation history.
North American P-51D-25-NT Mustang
The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang is a remarkable American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber that played a significant role during World War II, the Korean War, and other conflicts. The Mustang was designed in April 1940 in response to a requirement of the British Purchasing Commission. The Commission initially approached North American Aviation to build Curtiss P-40 fighters under license for the Royal Air Force (RAF). However, North American Aviation proposed the design and production of a more modern fighter rather than building an outdated design from another company.
The prototype NA-73X airframe was rolled out on 9 September 1940, and it first flew on 26 October, just 102 days after the contract was signed. The Mustang was initially designed to use the Allison V-1710 engine, which had limited high-altitude performance in its earlier variants. As a result, the RAF used the aircraft as a tactical-reconnaissance aircraft and fighter-bomber (Mustang Mk I).
However, North American Aviation replaced the Allison engine with a Rolls-Royce Merlin engine, which transformed the aircraft's performance at altitudes above 15,000 ft (4,600 m), allowing it to compete with the Luftwaffe's fighters. The P-51B/C (Mustang Mk III) model was the first to receive the Rolls-Royce Merlin engine, while the definitive version, the P-51D, was powered by the Packard V-1650-7. This was a license-built version of the two-speed, two-stage-supercharged Merlin 66 and was also armed with six .50 calibre (12.7 mm) AN/M2 Browning machine guns. This upgrade to the Merlin engine made the P-51D the most capable fighter of its time.
Starting from late 1943, P-51Bs and P-51Cs (supplemented by P-51Ds from mid-1944) were used by the USAAF's Eighth Air Force to escort bombers in raids over Germany. Meanwhile, the RAF's Second Tactical Air Force and the USAAF's Ninth Air Force used the Merlin-powered Mustangs as fighter bombers. These roles helped ensure Allied air superiority in 1944. The P-51 was also used by Allied air forces in the North African, Mediterranean, Italian, and Pacific theatres. During World War II, Mustang pilots claimed to have destroyed 4,950 enemy aircraft.
At the start of the Korean War, the Mustang, which was then redesignated as the F-51, was the main fighter of the United States until it was replaced by jet fighters, including North America's F-86. After this, the Mustang became a specialized fighter bomber. Despite the advent of jet fighters, the Mustang remained in service with some air forces until the early 1980s. After the Korean War, Mustangs became popular civilian warbirds and air racing aircraft. The P-51 Mustang remains a celebrated symbol of American military aviation.