P-51B "Berlin Express" to Cross Atlantic Ocean

[Bomber_12th]

The restored P-51B "Berlin Express", recently purchased by Dan Friedkin/Comanche Fighters, has left from Eagle Pass, TX this morning on a journey that will take it across the Atlantic Ocean and into Duxford, England next week, ahead of the Flying Legends airshow. The aircraft is being piloted by Lee Lauderback, owner of Stallion-51, who is recognized as the world's most experienced P-51 pilot. The flight will take them from Texas to Kentucky, to western New York, to Maine, then onto Newfoundland, Greenland, Iceland, Scotland, and finally Duxford, England, which they are planning to arrive on the American holiday of July 4th.

Having left at 10:00am Central Time this morning, currently the aircraft is enroute/flying its first leg, from Eagle Pass, TX to Paducah, Kentucky.

Progress of the journey can be followed here: http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0ttKhHZqYqIxTnMDDMCeL3GSYEqrNuj 4Y
Instagram account here: https://www.instagram.com/pursuit.aviation/?hl=en

Throughout the journey, the aircraft is being escorted by a King Air 350i support aircraft (3 mechanics and a video producer among the crew).
(https://www.flightradar24.com/B350/de5019f)
(One of the owner's other Mustangs (of eight in the massive collection), "Frenesi", is already at Duxford having arrived in a shipping container for the Flying Legends and RIAT airshows.)

Photos by Ed Shipley:

(Flying at 11,500ft - 190kts indicated, 230kts ground speed)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/19477451_10213175702249964_1387365061803075722_o_z ps4ujyodnr.jpg (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/19477451_10213175702249964_1387365061803075722_o_z ps4ujyodnr.jpg.html)

(Photo taken yesterday following a successful test flight, checking various items including the (post-WWII) working external tanks - the same drop tanks used on the TF-51D "Miss Velma" when it made the same journey exactly 10 years ago. If it is the same as it was then, they are capable of being released from the aircraft in-case of emergency.)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/19453191_10213157811322702_6922080066265794720_o_z psoncshvoe.jpg (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/19453191_10213157811322702_6922080066265794720_o_z psoncshvoe.jpg.html)

[IFlySWA]

That cockpit is going to be pretty cramped when the pilot wears his immersion suit. :biggrin-new:

Brian

[Bomber_12th]

Yeah, and I liked what Ed Shipley said when he was asked if he was going to piloting "Berlin Express" on this journey, as he had done with "Miss Velma" in 2007 - "no...done that before...checked that box."

[Victory103]

Great story and something I wouldn't mind being a part of, I fly either!

[Bushpounder]

Very cool. I wish they would have flown it into Roanoke. Bill Overstreet lived in Roanoke for many years before he died. He was a personal friend of mine. Great guy to talk with.

Don

[MustangL2W]

Thank You John for sharing the pictures. I just heard about this transaction/trip yesterday and here they are already in transit! Incredible story...and a spectacular Mustang. Really a shame we will lose it over here (For Now) and I am so glad I got to see it and appreciate it when I did. I still think you should paint that one up for Warbirdsim Mustang B/C pairs version you mastered. If your version of "Berlin Express" came out like your version of "Frenesi" did, I can only imagine the Screen shots you would be spoiling us with flying over Duxford for the Flying Legends Airshow next weekend!!!! Thanks for the info...and Pray that Lee and "Berlin Express" safely make that Atlantic crossing. I've never tried the crossing in the A2A Mustang, but have simulated missions over Germany and back in it. (No, I can't imagine doing that in the real airplane) I'd like to hear Lee talk about it when its all over. A real Aviation Odyssey!

[Bomber_12th]

Very cool. I wish they would have flown it into Roanoke. Bill Overstreet lived in Roanoke for many years before he died. He was a personal friend of mine. Great guy to talk with.

Don

Don, it is a great shame that the restoration wasn't completed/flying until after Bill Overstreet passed away, as he did visit the plane while it was under restoration and befriended those involved, and he signed one of the gunbay doors (I think he passed away only a year or two before the restoration was completed). As one person commented on Facebook, while the aircraft is in England (either temporarily or permanently - one doesn't quite know, considering the owner of the aircraft has warbirds based in both the US and England), that it should be flown over Paris so that some photos may be taken of it flying around the Eiffel Tower, as a tribute to Bill Overstreet and his famous dogfight that took him underneath the Eiffel Tower (though it was a different plane he was flying that day, compared to the one this restoration portrays).

Once over there, this will be the first time a Malcolm-hooded P-51 has flown in England since the end of WWII.

[Bomber_12th]

Jim, as I recall there already is a repaint available of "BE" for the existing Warbirdsim P-51B/C - to do a repaint of this aircraft, I'm waiting until I'm done with the new P-51B/C models "V.2".

[Bomber_12th]

"Berlin Express" left Dunkirk, New York early this morning, now on its third leg of the flight, and it is currently nearing Bangor, Maine, where it will land before making the next leg to Goose Bay, Newfoundland.

(BTW, I've read a number of people comment about how much they like the looks of this aircraft with these particular drop tanks fitted, and that they would like for it to still be wearing the tanks during the Flying Legends airshow (which it won't be). Personally, while I acknowledge that the owners/operators feel that these are the best tanks to use for this job, I can't get over/overlook the fact that these particular tanks/design weren't developed/used until after WWII (commonplace only in the late 40's and 50's). So, while they're doing their job, from a historical-accuracy standpoint, it's just not there. I suppose, however, if one squints hard enough, one can imagine these being the 108-gallon "paper" tanks.)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/19452795_1896954190557314_4390701313842898468_o_zp scpoff36p.jpg~original (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/19452795_1896954190557314_4390701313842898468_o_zp scpoff36p.jpg.html)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/19554690_10213185464374011_1842469126740000208_n_z psni1zegdf.jpg~original (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/19554690_10213185464374011_1842469126740000208_n_z psni1zegdf.jpg.html)

One of the owner's other Mustangs (of eight), "February", is currently residing in Pennsylvania for the summer, so on the trip into New York yesterday, it found them and formed up for some formation flying along the way, before it head back to PA last night. The Mustangs in Dan Friedkin's/Comanche Fighters' airforce of flying warbirds includes an A-36, P-51B "Berlin Express", P-51C "Princess Elizabeth", P-51D "February", P-51D "Double Trouble Two", P-51K "Fragile but Agile", F-6K/P-51D "Frenesi", and the TF-51D "Bum Stear". Among the large collection are also six flying Spitfires - two Mk.I's, two Mk.V's, a Mk.IX and a Mk.XIV - three are based in Texas and three are based in England.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/19510151_10213184774596767_7727384639613460120_n_z psfrd5kxwa.jpg~original (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/19510151_10213184774596767_7727384639613460120_n_z psfrd5kxwa.jpg.html)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/19248081_10213184775436788_259142573678868473_n_zp s5sozqtkq.jpg~original (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/19248081_10213184775436788_259142573678868473_n_zp s5sozqtkq.jpg.html)

[Victory103]

Hoped to track on Flightradar24, but did find the B350 based on the Spot info as they descend into Bangor.

[Bomber_12th]

There might be some reports about this flight on the news tonight, with CBS, NBC, ABC and FOX affiliates currently interviewing the crew at Bangor.

[Fishbed]

I'm pretty sure that you already working on repaint :)

[Bomber_12th]

No, not at this time (saving it for my new B/C product/models), but I will have a new/revised version of my "Frenesi" repaint, as well as repaints of some of the other Mustangs that will be participating at Flying Legends, released before next weekend.

[Fishbed]

No, not at this time (saving it for my new B/C product/models), but I will have a new/revised version of my "Frenesi" repaint, as well as repaints of some of the other Mustangs that will be participating at Flying Legends, released before next weekend.

you are best:applause:

[Bomber_12th]

Following along on this journey with Ed Shipley's reports on Facebook, they're currently on their way to Goose Bay, Newfoundland, with Lee using the fuel from the drop tanks, switching back and forth about every 15 minutes (as was typical during original wartime use, since in the Mustang there is no way of monitoring the quantity of fuel in either tank). Dodging some thunderstorms by the sound of it.

The distance covered on the current leg, from Bangor, Maine to Goose Bay, is 607.3 nautical miles. The estimated flight time is 2:35 and with a fuel burn of 156 gallons (I don't know if the 85 gallon fuselage tank on BE works, or if they would even intend on using it, but the internal wing tanks hold 184 gallons combined, with the drop tanks adding another 150 gallons).

[Bomber_12th]

An article about the flight with some superb photographs of "BE": http://vintageaviationecho.com/berlin-express/

[Bomber_12th]

Here's a photo shared by the team, taken today en-route to Goose Bay. At first I thought it was a flight sim screenshot(!) - with the way flight sim has been going, it has been getting harder and harder to tell the difference at times.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/19437466_1444318082317409_7544007091569184625_n_zp smzsmkrx4.jpg~original (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/19437466_1444318082317409_7544007091569184625_n_zp smzsmkrx4.jpg.html)

[Bomber_12th]

"BE" is currently on its way this morning to Narsarsuaq, Greenland, over nothing but ocean. 674.2nm and an estimated 3-hrs and 8-minutes of flight time on this leg.

[Bomber_12th]

Just landing now in Greenland. As was the case with "Miss Velma" back in 2007, "BE" is picking up some great exhaust stains with all of this flying.

[Bomber_12th]

Just about to land in Iceland now.

Here are some photos shared by the team taken in Greenland yesterday:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/19748803_10213222354696246_2235635701507890538_n_z psen4mfbis.jpg~original (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/19748803_10213222354696246_2235635701507890538_n_z psen4mfbis.jpg.html)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/19601168_10213212233563224_3610943267179983287_n_z pslnnqx9pe.jpg~original (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/19601168_10213212233563224_3610943267179983287_n_z pslnnqx9pe.jpg.html)

[Bomber_12th]

Safely landed in Iceland. Only one major water crossing remaining, flying to Wick, Scotland tomorrow.

A spectacular photo overflying Greenland icebergs: https://www.instagram.com/p/BWDe162HypJ/

[Bomber_12th]

Just landed in Wick, Scotland. As long as the weather cooperates, she'll be landing at Duxford tomorrow.

[Bomber_12th]

Landed at Duxford this morning, right on schedule. Some early photos of the arrival here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/64209520@N05/

[Fishbed]

Safely at Dux


https://scontent.fprg1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/19601353_1899738250278908_250138034596745332_n.jpg ?oh=3baa690d8a70b8186828dbaca0b2fcaa&oe=59CE6A68

[AussieMan]

Job well done. Those white walls would have Willy positively drooling.

By the way, for those wishing to emulate this flight is there a flight plan available please.

[Bomber_12th]

Hey Pat, it would be fun to sit down and recreate this same flight, over the course of perhaps a couple weeks or so.

The entire flight went as follows:

1st Day:
5TE0 Comanche Ranch (Eagle Pass, TX) ---to--- KPAH Barkley Regional (Paducah, Kentucky)
KPAH Barkley Regional (Paducah, Kentucky) ---to--- KDKK Chautauqua County Airport (Dunkirk, New York)

2nd Day:
KDKK Chautauqua County Airport (Dunkirk, New York) ---to--- KBGR Bangor International (Bangor, Maine)
KBGR Bangor International (Bangor, Maine) ---to--- CYYR Goose Bay Airport (Goose Bay, Newfoundland)

3rd Day:
CYYR Goose Bay Airport (Goose Bay, Newfoundland) ---to--- BGBW Narsarsuaq Airport (Narsarsuaq, Greenland)

4th Day:
BGBW Narsarsuaq Airport (Narsarsuaq, Greenland) ---to--- BIKF Keflavik International (Keflavik, Iceland)

5th Day:
BIKF Keflavik International (Keflavik, Iceland) ---to--- EGPC Wick John O' Groats Airport (Wick, Scotland)

6th Day:
EGPC Wick John O' Groats Airport (Wick, Scotland) ---to--- EGSU Duxford Aerodrome (Duxford, Cambridgeshire, England)


(The full journey took 7 days, as they didn't do any flying on Saturday due to weather. I've read that the entire flight covered 5,470 miles.)

[MustangL2W]

anyone know what the Flight time was??

[Bomber_12th]

By my rough calculations, adding up all of the legs of the flight by when "BE" was reported as taking off and when it was reported as landing, it works out to be right at 22-hrs of flight time, from when it left Texas last Tuesday, till when it arrived at Duxford this morning.

[AussieMan]

Thanks for that John. I will sit down in the next week or so to plan this flight. It will be a good test of your WBS P-51B in P3D V4.

Also I thought it was the P-51C that was fitted with the Malcolm Hood or was it originally a British RAF thing?

[Fishbed]

Job well done. Those white walls would have Willy positively drooling.

By the way, for those wishing to emulate this flight is there a flight plan available please.

here is a track http://www.pursuitaviation.com/berlin-express

[stansdds]

Thanks for that John. I will sit down in the next week or so to plan this flight. It will be a good test of your WBS P-51B in P3D V4.

Also I thought it was the P-51C that was fitted with the Malcolm Hood or was it originally a British RAF thing?

The P-51B and P-51C were the same aircraft, it was just North American Aviation's method of differentiating which assembly plant built the aircraft. P-51B's were built in Inglewood, California, while P-51C's came off the new assembly line in Dallas, Texas. Regardless of whether it was a P-51B or a P-51C that the RAF received, they named it the Mustang Mk.III. As for the Malcom hood, that was a British invention that was adopted by several USAAF units.

[Bomber_12th]

Just to add to what has been mentioned already referring to the Malcolm hood canopies...

All P-51B's and C's were manufactured with the "birdcage"/framed canopy, and all were identical - B's from Inglewood, CA and C's from Dallas, TX. (This manner of changing the contract letter designation based on place of manufacture did not hold true with the P-51D of course, as the 'D' was called a 'D' no matter if it was manufactured at Inglewood or Dallas - all adding to the confusion of course.)

Early into its service life (1940/1941), there were two main complaints coming in from RAF pilots, both concerning the early "birdcage" canopy - one main complaint was about the lack of visibility to the rear, and the other complaint had to do with taller pilots finding the headroom quite limited. The plan developed, therefore, to fit the Mustang with a canopy like what was being installed on Spitfires at the time (NAA was often quite closely associated with British aviation firms/designers at the time). North American Aviation engineers began doing the initial outline of the work in Inglewood, CA, and then went to England, working with the British firm R. Malcolm Comany, Ltd. to fully develop and produce a blown one-piece sliding bulged-hood canopy (blown canopies were quite a new invention at the time, and Malcolm already had the experience of using the method in producing canopies for the Spitfire). The idea was to provide enough bulging on the sides of the canopy so that the pilot could lean his head outward, and not only have improved visibility rearward, but also greater range of view downward, all the while providing far greater headroom and all-around visibility. In England, R. Malcolm did the stress load calculations and completed all of the design work for the internal and external modifications. NAA would continue to manufacture the P-51B/C's with the original birdcage canopy, up until the very last one, as by then they already had the P-51D well in development. Malcolm would however produce and provide as many Malcolm hood canopy "kits" as possible to RAF and USAAF units. Testing of the canopy first began as early as December 1942, but it took some time before they finally began delivering and fitting production examples of the canopy. Having followed the development of this new canopy and the enthusiastic reports by the British Air Ministry after the initial testing, in September 1943 the 8th Fighter Command in England expressed a similar and urgent desire to refit all of their P-51B/C's with the Malcolm hood canopy.

As I recall, the photo-recon Mustangs got priority, which included the Allison-engined RAF and USAAF variants like the Mustang Mk.II and F-6A/B, followed by the Merlin-engined RAF Mustang III's and USAAF P-51B/C's. At some point, the British Air Ministry even ordered that all RAF Mustang III's would only be delivered to operational units after the Malcolm hood was installed. On USAAF P-51B/C's, the Malcolm canopies began to be installed as early as February/March 1944. Both 8th AF and 9th AF P-51B/C's and F-6C's, operating from England and front-line bases in France and Belgium were fitted with Malcolm canopies, but these were the only USAAF Commands that used the canopy, and thus the canopies never were installed on Mustangs in any other Theatre of the war. Some very well-kept 9th AF photo-recon F-6C's in the ETO, following VE-Day, were packaged-up and shipped back to the US to eventually be used in the Pacific, but which never happened (which is the reason why some Malcolm-hooded Mustangs showed up in the US at the end of WWII).

The modification itself - the time spent converting a stock "birdcage" P-51A/B/C type to a Malcolm hood - was quite extensive/quite involved, and took an estimated 130 man hours. As a result, these modifications were usually always handled at depot-level. It involved having to remove the stock radio mast/antenna and mounting a new wire/whip antenna farther back along the spine and re-routing the wiring for the main radio set. With the birdcage canopy removed, the stock emergency canopy release system/parts also had to be removed. In its place were new canopy rails, canopy crank, sprockets, chains, wooden structural panels and supports, metal panels and supports, a whole new emergency release mechanism, the canopy itself, and a seal and fairing around the rear edge of the windscreen, all requiring a lot of drilling out new holes for screws and cutting in a hole for the external canopy release button to fit through.

[Bomber_12th]

BTW, for those looking to retrace the flight plan that "Berlin Express" flew over the past week...

Each leg of the flight was flown at moderate, safe and efficient cruising altitudes:

On the first leg, from 5TE0 to KPAH, the cruising altitude was 11,500 ft
On the second leg, from KPAH to KDKK, the cruising altitude was 11,500 ft
On the third leg, from KDKK to KBGR, the cruising altitude was 11,500 ft
On the fourth leg, from KBGR to CYYR, the cruising altitude was 11,500 ft
On the fifth leg, from CYYR to BGBW, the cruising altitude was 10,000 ft
On the sixth leg, from BGBW to BIKF, the cruising altitude was 13,000 ft (initial) down to 12,000 ft (due to cloud layer)
On the seventh leg, from BIKF to EGPC, the cruising altitude was 13,000 ft
On the final leg, from EGPC to EGSU, the cruising altitude was 12,000 ft

Each leg, the average true airspeed during cruise was 230kts, with the average ground speed being around/near 250kts (plus/minus as much as 5kts, depending on cruising altitude). 5,470 miles covered, over six days of flying, with roughly 22hrs of flight time total.

[Fishbed]

Thanks John for this! I will defenietly try to simulate this journey after I come back from Duxford next week:encouragement:

[Daveroo]

Thanks John for this! I will defenietly try to simulate this journey after I come back from Duxford next week:encouragement:


hey while at Duxford ,look for Col C E Bud Anderson and tell him you know me,he and i are both from Auburn Ca,he would know me as either the fat guy in the power wheelchair,or the plumbers son...lol.....and im serious.see what he says...last i heard,he had told my mom one day at the market that he was going to Duxford again this year.

[Creepy847]

I have a question for anyone but was thinking that John might have an idea.

What is the longest P51 combat mission as far as miles traveled/duration in WW2?

I have not looked this up and Im hoping someone might be able to give a detailed answer.

Thanks.

Creeps.

[Bomber_12th]

The longest standard Mustang combat missions of WWII were those flown by pilots of the 506th FG operating from Iwo Jima. These were known as VLR missions, or "Very Long Range", and usually lasted 7 hours, but 8 hours wasn't uncommon. Because of the duration and the resulting fatigue and strain it placed on the crews, pilots were given credit for flying three missions for every one VLR mission. Once a 506th FG pilot would reach 15 VLR missions, they were done. The Mustangs would carry enough fuel, sometimes in P-38-type 150-gallon tanks, to make it to Japan and then loiter over Tokyo, for instance, for up to two hours, before making the journey back to Iwo. Pilots were restricted to flying no more than six VLR missions per month. I've read descriptions and seen old moving footage of pilots having to be helped out of the cockpits after a VLR mission. If a pilot was shot down in Japanese waters, a flight of Mustangs would provide cover until a US submarine or PBY would rescue the pilot, and in some of these cases, these Mustang pilots flew cover for up to 4 hours, finally landing after spending 10 hours in the air. Typical round-trip distance was 1,500 miles, most of which was of course over open ocean.

[Creepy847]

The longest standard Mustang combat missions of WWII were those flown by pilots of the 506th FG operating from Iwo Jima. These were known as VLR missions, or "Very Long Range", and usually lasted 7 hours, but 8 hours wasn't uncommon. Because of the duration and the resulting fatigue and strain it placed on the crews, pilots were given credit for flying three missions for every one VLR mission. Once a 506th FG pilot would reach 15 VLR missions, they were done. The Mustangs would carry enough fuel, sometimes in P-38-type 150-gallon tanks, to make it to Japan and then loiter over Tokyo, for instance, for up to two hours, before making the journey back to Iwo. Pilots were restricted to flying no more than six VLR missions per month. I've read descriptions and seen old moving footage of pilots having to be helped out of the cockpits after a VLR mission. If a pilot was shot down in Japanese waters, a flight of Mustangs would provide cover until a US submarine or PBY would rescue the pilot, and in some of these cases, these Mustang pilots flew cover for up to 4 hours, finally landing after spending 10 hours in the air. Typical round-trip distance was 1,500 miles, most of which was of course over open ocean.

Thank you very much for sharing. I had a feeling that the Pacific pilots might have had longer missions because of the vast size of that ocean.

:applause:

[NSS]

Leaving for Duxford very soon. Day two of Flying Legends.

One legend that I am unlikely to see flying is Berlin Express.

Yesterday she suffered a failure of the Malcolm Hood.

Reports saying the hood struck the tail causing minor damage.

The pilot landed safely and no further damage caused.

http://forums.airshows.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=78017

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6LmJvCmMhE

I bet a Malcolm hood is going to be hard to replace.

Kev

[Bomber_12th]

Nick Grey (of The Fighter Collection) was flying the aircraft at the time, and was entering into a display routine that he had already practiced flying in the aircraft earlier this week. According to Nick Grey, he was indicating 360kts (or roughly 414mph) at the time the plexiglass canopy separated. The plexiglass was the only thing that departed - the canopy frames/runners were still attached to the rails. In one particular photo (second photo in this post), it shows that the right-side of the canopy separated from the framework (roller assembly) which ended up splitting and shattering the canopy into many pieces, all in a split second. Some moderate sized pieces dented the vertical fin and dented and bent portions of both sides of the horizontal. Hopefully the damage to the tail surfaces is limited to just the leading edges, otherwise the horizontal, for instance, may have to be put back in a jig for the repairs to be done, if the damage has affected the forward spars. It is amazing the damage that can be done by just some chunks of plastic - going 400mph.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/19748689_10155757705414767_1976685505000404136_n_z ps8ayatelj.jpg (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/19748689_10155757705414767_1976685505000404136_n_z ps8ayatelj.jpg.html)

As said, fortunately it wasn't actually the whole Malcolm hood canopy that came off, it was just the plexiglass (the runners remained attached to the canopy rails), and thus with the exception of the tail repairs that will have to be done, only the actual plexiglass bubble will have to replaced. Pacific Fighters, which restored this one, I know had at least 3 of the plexiglass bubbles newly manufactured for the various restorations they've done/worked on ("Impatient Virign", "Berlin Express", and currently an RAF B-model), so that will likely be the route taken to source a new one. The most difficult part might be identifying the reason why the plexiglass separated and then being able to better ensure that it doesn't happen again. Even if they could get a replacement Malcolm hood canopy over to England, they still wouldn't be able to fly it again until the tail is repaired, which will take weeks in itself and better done back in the US where it was restored in the first place.

Some people have been saying that due to this incident yesterday, this is the reason why the plane will have to be crated and shipped back to the US - but that was going to happen anyway, just probably not so soon as it will be happening. "BE" was going to be used by the Horsemen P-51 aerobatic team for their three-ship formation routine this weekend at Flying Legends - that is the whole reason why it was flown over to England ahead of this weekend (the aircraft was recently purchased by Horsemen pilot, Dan Friedkin). The P-51D "Miss Helen" will be used in-place of "BE" for today's Flying Legends air show. "Frenesi", the other Mustang that Friedkin currently has in England, was originally scheduled to to participate in the RIAT airshow next weekend, for the Heritage Flight performance, but then the decision was made within the last week or two to use "Berlin Express" at RIAT instead. Now with "BE" unserviceable, I'm sure "Frenesi" will be used.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/DENzOo_XcAAVVXu.jpg%20large_zpsfl6h7yqv.jpg (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/DENzOo_XcAAVVXu.jpg%20large_zpsfl6h7yqv.jpg.html)

Some more photos:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/123146806@N06/35762044756/sizes/l
https://www.flickr.com/photos/141052859@N04/35423258340/sizes/h/

[n4gix]

It seems extremely fortunate that this did not happen during the ferry flight! Imagine having to fly for hours without the canopy, not to mention the damage done to the tail surfaces! :dizzy:

[Bomber_12th]

Yes, very lucky indeed. The aircraft never exceeded about 250 kts (or roughly 287 mph) on any of the legs of the flight over the Atlantic, however, so the potential for something like this to happen was not as great as it was when it occurred, which at the time the aircraft was going 360 kts (or roughly 414 mph). As I mentioned, after arriving at Duxford on Tuesday, it had been flown Wednesday, Thurdsay and Friday in aerobatic display routines over Duxford, including the one which it was doing yesterday when the plexiglass departed, and must have not shown any signs of cracking or other issues. The P-51B "Impatient Virgin" restored by the same company as "BE" and with the exact same Malcolm hood canopy/configuration has been flying since 2008 and has never had this happen.

[NSS]

And to top it all.

Just got home from the airshow today.

Sadly another Mustang down. Pilot O.K.

Hope you people across the pond can see the link.

http://www.itv.com/news/anglia/update/2017-07-09/crop-duster-heritage-fighter-plane-ends-up-in-field/


Kev

[Bomber_12th]

Sad to see, but I'm glad the pilot is okay and I know the aircraft will be back in the air as soon as is possible (just time and expense).

Someone on one of the Facbook group pages made a comment just now about how "they continue to wreck these airplanes", as if they are somehow priceless antiques that cannot be risked flying since evidently when something like this happens they cannot be repaired and thus are lost to posterity, yada, yada, yada... The fact is, is that these airplanes, both "Miss Velma" and "Berlin Express" in particular, didn't even exist 20 years ago, and wouldn't exist today, other than some parts on a shelf or in a display case, unless there were people with an interest in having Mustangs to fly. "Miss Velma" got started as just a grouping of parts beginning in 1999/2000, and was built-up almost from nothing. "Berlin Express" got started in 2010 using the identity of a Mustang from a heap of mangled/corroded remains that were dug out of the ground, and thus too got started from next to nothing. When these airplanes get dinged/bent/damaged today, unless they get flown nose into ground, they always get repaired and fly again (if the owner doesn't have the money, these types of planes have a habit of going where there is the money to repair and fly them). Often times too, these days, the repairs that are done are to structure/sections that were new now in the 2000's, not the 1940's.

[Fishbed]

Here http://vintageaviationecho.com/operation-berlin-express/ is a super great article about Mission Berlin Express with beautifull images as well ! enjoy it!:wavey: