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Post by Deleted on Mar 3, 2013 14:47:26 GMT 12
Great pics!
I too am curious about radio fit etc as I'd like to build CCG as a civilian machine in 1/72 and would love to get it right.
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Post by agalbraith on Mar 3, 2013 15:37:10 GMT 12
Hi Zac, I seem to remember talking to Greg about this as I have the big 32nd kit that I am wanting to do as CCG.
This from Greg when we were supposed to be discussing Austers!
"Way back there was a bit of preliminary work done to fit a jump seat in the back of the Mustang. The radios were relocated and I definitely remember the new seat sitting in the garage at home that was to be fitted in. I was under the impression, and think told it was from a Harvard. This did not eventuate I think insurance matters coming into play. There just happened to be seatbelt “attachment holes” in the floor and an appropriate seat squab thrown in for good measure. The ARC boxes were bolted to the floor, after removing the armour plating and the original ARC mountings".
He seems to recall the rear tank was removed in 58 during overhaul.
Hope this helps
Cheers
Anthony
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Post by corsair67 on Mar 3, 2013 16:32:35 GMT 12
I note in the 1966 photos that flyernzl has posted that the armoured headrest is missing - maybe a passenger flight had taken place then?
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Post by htbrst on Mar 4, 2013 9:43:30 GMT 12
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Post by Deleted on Aug 20, 2016 14:36:56 GMT 12
Belated thanks, Anthony! Do you still have those photos from Ron? The Photobucket links look broken. I'm back on the CCG model trail, but now as a 1/48 kit - which is on my bench about to be started. Through gathering reference material for the model I found this site (link). It's all about the stripping and repainting process the aircraft underwent in the USA, including a photo I've never seen of it with the CCG scheme partially stripped. |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 3, 2022 22:32:40 GMT 12
From The Press, 1 December 1964
The Mustang Flies Again
A World War II American-built Mustang fighter, bought from R.N.Z.A.F. war-surplus stocks for £75 in 1958, flew again from Harewood at the week-end.
The 400 m.p.h. aircraft has been rebuilt on an Aylesbury farm by the farmer and an airline pilot in their spare time.
The two men, who restored the aircraft in 2500 man-hours, are Mr J. S. MacDonald, an airline pilot of Mappleton avenue, Bryndwr, and Mr R. M. Feckney [sic]. Mr Feckney was a war-time pilot on transports in the Pacific.
The P-51D model Mustang, powered with a 1490 h.p. Packard-Merlin engine, was one of a number bought by the New Zealand Government for use in the Burma campaign. The war finished before the aircraft could be moved to the front. Mr MacDonald said that his aircraft was used by the Territorial Air Force till 1955, when it was put in storage at Woodbourne R.N.Z.A.F. Station, near Blenheim.
The two men dismantled the wings and transported the plane to Mr Feckney’s Aylesbury farm by truck. Conversion of the Mustang to a civil aircraft was begun in 1959.
On Friday in the No. 1 hangar at Harewood, the Mustang aroused much attention among ground maintenance staff. The aircraft was awaiting its certificate of airworthiness.
Mr MacDonald believes that his red and white Mustang is the only one in New Zealand that has been converted for civilian use. But in the United States today, he said, there were about 500 Mustangs being flown as executive or private aircraft. About 18 were being flown in Australia today for similar purposes.
Mr MacDonald said:— “My purpose in reconstructing the aircraft is to preserve a World War II fighter and save it from being scrapped.
“Eventually, when its flying days are over, I may possibly present it on loan to a museum.”
In the meantime, Mr MacDonald and his partner plan to fly their Mustang from Harewood to many different parts of New Zealand for sport.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 4, 2022 7:24:57 GMT 12
Thanks for finding and sharing that Dave, what a fantastic piece of history!
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 4, 2022 23:25:15 GMT 12
PRESS, 20 May 1968
OLD MUSTANG AIRCRAFT
Temporary Storage
A war-time Mustang fighter, seen by thousands of New Zealanders at flying displays up and down the country in the last three years, will be put in temporary storage. Mr J. McDonald, Of Christchurch, a part-owner of the aircraft said that with the country’s present economic recession there would not be many future air shows, so that the plane is to be “given a rest.”
The Mustang will be put in storage at the Aylesbury farm of its other part-owner, Mr R. M. McFechney, a former war-time pilot. Mr McDonald and Mr McFechney bought the aircraft for £75 from the Royal New Zealand Air Force stores in 1958, and prepared it for flight. It is the only one in New Zealand to be converted for civilian use.
Price $44,000
Mr McDonald said it was doubtful if another Mustang will ever be flown in New Zealand. “It is a most expensive luxury,” he said. - “Fortunately, my sponsors are very keen to keep it flying for as long as possible. The average price for a Mustang on the United States market today is about $44,000, and I cannot imagine anyone bringing one out here," be said. Only two were still being flown in Australia, he said, and these by a firm which used them for drogue-towing for gunnery practice by the armed services.
In spite of its relative scarcity the Mustang—or, as it is known in the United States, the P-51D—is being seriously reconsidered for use in Vietnam by the United States forces. Mr McDonald said the cost of building the Mustang was at present being evaluated by the Americans. He said it was considerably cheaper to manufacture than some of the more sophisticated jets, while for low-level work it was comparable with them.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 5, 2022 7:43:53 GMT 12
Thanks Dave! Interesting to see the mention of potential remanufacture of Mustangs for Vietnam, one of those tantalising What If?s for modellers like myself. In case anyone was curious I put the purchase prices in the above article into the Reserve Bank of New Zealand's online inflation calculator and came up with these numbers as of Q4 2021: bought the aircraft for £75 from the Royal New Zealand Air Force stores in 1958 $3,976.00 $847,024.91 |
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Post by Antonio on Mar 6, 2022 10:04:45 GMT 12
"In spite of its relative scarcity the Mustang—or, as it is known in the United States, the P-51D—is being seriously reconsidered for use in Vietnam by the United States forces. Mr McDonald said the cost of building the Mustang was at present being evaluated by the Americans. He said it was considerably cheaper to manufacture than some of the more sophisticated jets, while for low-level work it was comparable with them." Cavalier Mustang II In 1967, Cavalier developed an outgrowth of the F-51D designed for close air support and counter-insurgency operations, calling this aircraft the Cavalier Mustang II. The Mustang II had improved avionics, structural improvements to the wing to allow more external weapons carriage on four additional hardpoints, and an improved Rolls-Royce Merlin V-1650-724A engine.[3] Two batches of Mustang IIs were constructed: the first group was built for El Salvador in 1968 and the second group was constructed for export to Indonesia in 1972 and 1973. The five Mustang IIs (including one TF-51D) built for El Salvador featured wingtip fuel tanks to increase combat range. Five Mustang IIs and one TF-51D were built for Indonesia in 1972, but they did not have tip tanks due to a U.S. State Department restriction on their combat radius.[4] The AFMoNZ Mustang is a Cavalier conversion. |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 6, 2022 11:41:46 GMT 12
Yes I was thinking about the Cavalier Mustangs, but I wasn't sure if any went to Vietnam.
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Post by baz62 on Mar 6, 2022 16:51:39 GMT 12
"In spite of its relative scarcity the Mustang—or, as it is known in the United States, the P-51D—is being seriously reconsidered for use in Vietnam by the United States forces. Mr McDonald said the cost of building the Mustang was at present being evaluated by the Americans. He said it was considerably cheaper to manufacture than some of the more sophisticated jets, while for low-level work it was comparable with them." The AFMoNZ Mustang is a Cavalier conversion. I was at Wigram as a volunteer on Sundays and the ex Indonesian Mustang was sitting in 7 hangar after delivery all dismantled and I got to sit in the cockpit. I seem to recall she had two seats but if there was only one TF-51D I doubt we got that one. Probably the old memory. Do remember us all lifting the top half of the steel Merlin transport container (yeah that was HEAVY) to get to have a look at her engine. We knew she wouldn't be restored to run and I can confirm that since there were no spark plugs in her and there was like a piece of straw like material sticking out of one spark plug hole! |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 6, 2022 18:40:21 GMT 12
Yes I was thinking about the Cavalier Mustangs, but I wasn't sure if any went to Vietnam. I don't believe any did. |
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Post by kiwi172 on Mar 7, 2022 13:30:23 GMT 12
I certainly didn't see any over the 1974/1975 period.
Earlier on, mid 60's I think, Piper started on the PA-48 Enforcer but it was not up to specs, was too late, and was well beaten by the Fairchild A10.
What I found more interesting was the B26K (A26A) On Mark conversion with their hard nose and underwing mounts (and armed guards).
Ah memories.
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Post by Antonio on Mar 8, 2022 18:14:20 GMT 12
Re: "NZ2410" From the horses mouth: www.airforcemuseum.co.nz/aircraft/north-american-p-51-mustang/This aircraft was originally built in 1944 by North American Aviation at its factory in California for the United States Army Air Forces. It was converted to a post-War P-51D ‘Cavalier’ model in 1967, and supplied to the Indonesian Air Force under the US Mutual Aid Programme in 1972, before being retired from service and placed into storage in 1976. Now we know  |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 9, 2022 17:36:15 GMT 12
Earlier on, mid 60's I think, Piper started on the PA-48 Enforcer but it was not up to specs, was too late, and was well beaten by the Fairchild A10. What I found more interesting was the B26K (A26A) On Mark conversion with their hard nose and underwing mounts (and armed guards). I've always liked the Counter Invader, it just looks like it means business! |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 14, 2022 15:43:00 GMT 12
From The Press, PRESS, 29 March 1974
Mustang going to U.S. to rest
A 30-year-old Mustang fighter will land at Christchurch Airport for the last time next week before being crated for delivery to a flying museum at Spokane, Washington, to which it has been sold for about $6OOO.
The plane, owned by an Aylesbury farmer, Mr R. Fechney. and a Christchurch-based Mount Cook Airlines pilot, Captain J. H. Macdonald. who paid £75 for it in 1958, has been bought by a Mr L. Schafhausen, who is associated with the American representatives involved in the building of the White Heron lodge at Christchurch Airport.
Bought from the R.N.Z.A.F.. it has been seen at many air displays up and down New Zealand when it was painted black and white and was sponsored by Mobil (N.Z.), Ltd.
The two former owners, who were preparing it for its future journey at Aylesbury yesterday, estimate it has a further 25,000 flying hours. In the last eight years they have had at least 40 offers for the Mustang. In selling it, Mr Macdonald said the aircraft was not an historical treasure. "After all, it is an American wartime aircraft and there are still quite a number about.”
One of the reasons for quitting the aircraft is that both have “outgrown” it now, while another is the fuel crisis—the Mustang consumes about 65 gallons an hour.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 17, 2022 17:21:32 GMT 12
when it was painted black and white And people complain about today's journalists! In selling it, Mr Macdonald said the aircraft was not an historical treasure. "After all, it is an American wartime aircraft and there are still quite a number about.” It's amazing how only ten years later the situation was so different, in regards to perception at least. |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 17, 2022 17:24:20 GMT 12
when it was painted black and white And people complain about today's journalists! But is was black and white. The article is not wrong.  |
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Post by johnnyfalcon on Aug 17, 2022 18:01:51 GMT 12
Splitting hairs Dave.  Looks primarily red and white to me, unless you're counting the tyres and prop as well |
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Looks primarily red and white to me, unless you're counting the tyres and prop as well 