Love the jacket!
In the UK, huh? Do you do air shows? There's a reason for this question, you can PM me.
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The Art of the Flight Jacket (my A-2, custom artwork)
- Thread starter TXFlyGuy
- Start date
Love the jacket!
In the UK, huh? Do you do air shows? There's a reason for this question, you can PM me.
Can't PM you, for some reason. Ben Chester-Master does the air shows, including the Normandy D-Day re-enactment. Look up Ben (U.K.) at Moccas Mustang.
http://www.moccasmustang.co.uk/
Be sure to tell him that his Texas friend told you about him!
I'm curious as to why these are not built to full size replica's. To own even the scaled down version means you have a few $$$£££¥¥¥ to spare as the original costs and fees etc probably don't come cheap, even learning to fly a light plane is not easy.
Are there regulations about size and power or are there simply not enough engines powerful enough to build replica Spit's and Mustangs.
I would have thought there were enough millionaires in the world who would buy them.
Are there regulations about size and power or are there simply not enough engines powerful enough to build replica Spit's and Mustangs.
I would have thought there were enough millionaires in the world who would buy them.
I get this question all the time. It is simple. A 100% full size P-51 will cost 2.5 million U.S. dollars. The hourly operating cost is 1,400 U.S. dollars.
Many think that you could build one for less money. Titan Aircraft is developing a full size kit. The base price is 500,000 U.S. dollars. It could be more than that. Then you need an engine. And a propeller. Go price a Rolls-Royce Merlin V-12. Then find a Hamilton-Standard P-51 Propeller. Yes, these are full size, and have a full size cost factor. MT propeller will manufacture a new Mustang prop, but the price range would be $50,000-$70,000. Before you start your engine the first time, you will have burned through close to two million dollars.
The four blade, 94 inch diameter propeller for my Mustang is $16,500. It is designed and built by Whirlwind Propeller in California. Like I have said before, my Mustang is 10% of the cost of a real P-51, but 99% of the fun!
Ever try to buy insurance for a P-51? The insurance premium for my aircraft is close to $5,000 a year. Very few underwriters will even go there. Almost no one wants to insure a WWII fighter, even a replica. Imagine what the premium would be if you were insuring a hull value of 2.5 million. My friend who owns a real P-51 says his insurance is near $100,000 annually.
There are about two hundred P-51's left today. About one hundred of those are airworthy, with the rest collecting dust in museums. Not sure about the Spitfire.
WoW and thanks for the reply, I never realised the prop would be as much as it is, well we don't want that breaking up mid flight.
The price of the full size WWII aircraft I guessed about right though.
I did read that Merlins parts were relatively plentiful though, I don't mean there are hundreds of the things but just more than you would expect. Also you just need the right parts for the right block as tanks etc used iron blocks and no superchargers.
It sort of reminded me of that group of enthusiasts that tried to rescue the B29 out on the ice, the one that burnt to the ground and sank in a lake with 4 brand new engines, just because they left the generator running.
At Duxford air show a few years back I asked the R.A.F display if it was possible, "How much to buy a ride in a current Tornado". "£20,000 an hr for a specialist flight. But it isn't possible anyway" (Dad swallows hard gulp
)was the reply.
The price of the full size WWII aircraft I guessed about right though.
I did read that Merlins parts were relatively plentiful though, I don't mean there are hundreds of the things but just more than you would expect. Also you just need the right parts for the right block as tanks etc used iron blocks and no superchargers.
It sort of reminded me of that group of enthusiasts that tried to rescue the B29 out on the ice, the one that burnt to the ground and sank in a lake with 4 brand new engines, just because they left the generator running.
At Duxford air show a few years back I asked the R.A.F display if it was possible, "How much to buy a ride in a current Tornado". "£20,000 an hr for a specialist flight. But it isn't possible anyway" (Dad swallows hard gulp
)was the reply.It is easy to buy a ride over here in a B-17, B-24, P-51, AT-6, etc. Not cheap, however. The Collings Foundation tours the country every year, offering rides to those interested.
A 30 minute flight in a B-17 is $450.
30 minutes in a P-51 is $2,200.
A friend bought a ride in the B-24. He said it was interesting. And not a comfortable place to be.
http://www.collingsfoundation.org/flight-experiences/
Yes, Merlins are available. But expensive. The Allison engine is much less expensive. There are shops here that specialize in building P-51's. Mostly new fabricated parts. I am afraid to inquire about the cost.
My replica P-51 is costing way more than we anticipated.
A 30 minute flight in a B-17 is $450.
30 minutes in a P-51 is $2,200.
A friend bought a ride in the B-24. He said it was interesting. And not a comfortable place to be.
http://www.collingsfoundation.org/flight-experiences/
Yes, Merlins are available. But expensive. The Allison engine is much less expensive. There are shops here that specialize in building P-51's. Mostly new fabricated parts. I am afraid to inquire about the cost.
My replica P-51 is costing way more than we anticipated.
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I'd love a ride in a B-24. The B17 at Duxford, you could pay a little to go in it but not sit at the front, that was for paid up supporters only when I saw it last(about 15 years ago). I think they could have got a lot more money out of it. No pay on the day flights though, or otherwise unless it has changed.
$450, I think I would go for that, once in a lifetime experience.
That nose art says it all
$450, I think I would go for that, once in a lifetime experience.
That nose art says it all
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A local museum here, the Cavanaugh Flight Museum, offers rides in their aircraft. These include an F4U Corsair, P-51D Mustang, AT-6, and others. Other than coming up with the cash, it is pretty easy to get a 30 minute or an hour flight in these. Stallion 51 in Florida offers P-51 training flights.
There is an outside chance that I may get to fly my friends Mustang, Buzzin' Cuzzin'.
There is an outside chance that I may get to fly my friends Mustang, Buzzin' Cuzzin'.
nick123
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I took a ride in an AT-6 once. Chose the aerobatic flight route when I should have gone the scenic route in retrospect...I'm so old...
I agree with the "scenic" ride. My Mustang is stressed for +9 / -6 G's. I am a 1 G guy! An aileron roll is about as much as I want...and only if it is a 1 G maneuver!
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He-he.... take a flight with our mechanic in the Stampe SV4. Ever seen Space Cowboys, the biplane scene? It's kinda like that with him. This SV4 has a Lycoming under the hood, it's a beast and a total blast to fly.
nick123
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Dude you need to get your G-8 to wear with her. That's a perfect jacket for that aircraft!
To quote Star Wars, "Aaaaalmost there..."
But I'd rather be waiting on one of Tex's Mustangs to arrive.
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