OT: Warbirdsim on Facebook

[Bomber_12th]

After many months of thinking about it, and suggestions for doing it, I'm happy to say that Warbirdsim finally now has a page on Facebook. I hope that it will provide an active portal to what's going on in terms of development and research for Warbirdsim projects, as well as sharing real world warbird news and related information, and photos from our research trips. I understand that not everyone is on Facebook, but even if you aren't you 'should' still be able to see the page. Mind you it is early and just getting started, so not much is on the page yet.

https://www.facebook.com/Warbirdsim (https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.411036362320574.97123.411008492323361&type=3#!/Warbirdsim)

Tonight I have posted some images of our FSX reproduction of the P-51D-5-NA 44-14017 that the Navy borrowed and modified for carrier trials in the fall of 1944, as well as photos of the original aircraft. This aircraft will hopefully be available at the beginning of March, together in one product with a large selection of Mustangs that each tell a very unique story just by themselves - combined, they tell of the greater legacy of the P-51 from WWII till today. More screens and information of the individual aircraft that this product will feature will begin to be added. Michael Davies has been very kind to provide an accurate depiction of the USS Shangri-La for this product, depicted as it was at the time of the P-51 carrier trials. The carrier is setup with an AI route that takes the ship from the Norfolk docks up into the Chesapeake Bay where the original trials actually took place. The ship's schedule even follows the times recorded from the ship's logs. Through much testing and refinements, the aircraft not only accurately supports arrested landings (and deck run take-offs), but is also fully compatible with FSX Acceleration catapult take-offs. Carrier operations with the aircraft may be a challenge at first, especially landings, but it is a very rewarding experience when done well.

For those interested in reading more about the Navalized Mustang, here are scans of a couple of old articles that really helped me out with getting the details just right, written by those that were directly involved.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/raiden/NP51-1_zpsd9d1cedb.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/raiden/NP51-2_zps5d91a697.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/raiden/NP51-4_zps0df8f15b.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/raiden/NP51-5_zpsc45d79d0.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/raiden/4414017_1_zps90dcda3b.jpg

[jeansy]

2 lots of liked from me

[Mach3DS]

:jump: Very nice to see you there John! Liked from me...The Navy shots look great....waiting patiently:kilroy:

[Flyboy208]

Way cool John ! Mike

[peter12213]

Liked immediately John, just a quick question as "Mr Mustang" have you ever thought of doing the F-82 twin Mustang?

[Francois]

You are 'liked page' #513 in my growing list :salute:

[DaveQ]

Just joined FB - liked!!

DaveQ

[Bomber_12th]

Thank you all! It has been great to have such a nice reception thus-far. There will likely be some images put up later today (here as well, if that is okay) of another unique aircraft that is part of the up-coming product.

Peter, at this time I can't really say yes or no in terms of the P/F-82 being done in the future, but I do have an interest in the aircraft type (and although the P-51H is out of the question, having sent all of the engineering drawings I had to a developer currently working on one, I would like to also, sometime, reproduce the XP-51F, XP-51G, and XP-51J, but the P-51A/A-36 will be first). I would like to get up to the Blaine airport (north of Minneapolis), where one of the two P/F-82's currently under restoration to airworthy is hangared to get some first-hand research done on the F-82. It is a private/company hangar, rather than a public museum, so arrangements would have to be made first. The other P-82, an XP-82, is under restoration with Tom Reilly in Florida (this example has Merlins, where as the F-82 in Minnesota with C&P Aviation has Allisons, as many of the production models had - both configurations original to the different aircraft types). Tom keeps an active, usually monthly, blog on the progress of this aircraft, which can be found here: http://xp-82twinmustangproject.blogspot.com/p/home_17.html

[spotlope]

Liked!

[Bomber_12th]

Thank you Bill!

A new album for the up-coming RF-51D "Little Lynn" has been posted.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Post-War%20Mustangs/RF-51D_LL_1_zps64ca54f0.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Post-War%20Mustangs/RF-51D_LL_2_zpse7055d3f.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Post-War%20Mustangs/RF-51D_LL_6_zpsad3022ef.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Post-War%20Mustangs/RF-51D_LL_5_zps283ca2ea.jpg

[Quicksand]

Goos stuff over there John. There needs to be an "I LOVE IT!" button though. :applause::icon29:

[Naki]

Liked!...the 3rd to do so. Always find your posts interesting and informative - I now look forward to some interesting reading on Facebook!

[peter12213]

That's great John and thanks for the link, I've always had a love of the aircraft after reading the story of Lt William "Skeeter" Hudson and Lt Carl Fraser (RO) who shot down a Yak 7U who's pilot climbed onto the wing and tried to rescue or encourage his observer to bail out only to pull his chute moments before impact. That was F-82G "Bucket O' Bolts" 46-383, 68F(AW)S first aerial victory of the Korean War 27/06/50.