Mustangs - creatures of beauty

[Timmeh]

Ok, as some of you know, I work in aviation, on the cutting edge of technology of fighter aircraft in Australia.

But as with cars, nothing commands the respect and charm of the old school. It's not every day I find a set of photos that really stand out, so here is a set I think you should enjoy.









More to come...

[Timmeh]

A most beautiful pair of North American P-51 Mustangs - Crazy Horse and Crazy Horse 2. Used 60 years ago in World War Two for the liberation of Europe, but today they fly for peace and beauty only! Enjoy!

Tim!

[Pieoter]

Some very nice aircraft there. Great photos too

[mitch_lx]

there some nice lookin birds!!!
mmm shiny

they copped out some *** kicking in WWII

[fordel]

Damn theya re some awesome pics of awesoe planes !

Round the corner from me we have a Historic aircraft museum as well, know a guy that has worked on the planes in there, really should go check it out one day i think

Chris

[smciner1]

There is no School like the Old School (tm)..........

:

[Olympus]

Beautiful pics mate, those planes look amazing.

[3Toed]

Very nice pics, Tim.

Just one question: assuming you got Darkie and Strider to help you, how long did it take you all, and how much Meguiar's, to get those planes so shiny?

Fantastic photography there Tim. Nice looking planes as well.

[b2tf]

Originally Posted by 3Toed

Very nice pics, Tim.

Just one question: assuming you got Darkie and Strider to help you, how long did it take you all, and how much Meguiar's, to get those planes so shiny?

LOL, they sure are shiny! Really nice though.

[banarcus]

I remember when I was in my mid teens that I got sit in the cockpit of a 'D, Col Pay's baby. Beautiful aircraft. I was over at pommyland at the Duxford airshow and they had 3 of them with a b17 in formation, absolutely awesome.

[XRated]

Absolutely stunning machinery.. Old school respect!

BTW, what camera were they taken with?

[Casper]

The Mustang is the HO Phase 3 of the aircraft world. Getting old, not as fast as some now but the most desirable, perferctly shaped and history laden aircraft in the world IMHO. I've loved them since I first saw one (the sound is awesome too).
Strangely enough, thats what the Ford Mustang was actually named after....the horse was only later on before it went on sale.

[deesun]

awesome planes and awesome pics thanks Timmeh

[GTP 320]

And to think that they were used almost 60 years ago is quite amazing,they really were a good looking Fighter plane and still look great today.
Cheers John

[LUXO_8]

awesome shots tim,

[Psycho Chicken]

NIIIICEE!!!

What the other two in the photo with the P-15 and the F-16? A Mirage (?) and a what?

[Casper]

Originally Posted by Psycho Chicken

NIIIICEE!!!

What the other two in the photo with the P-15 and the F-16? A Mirage (?) and a what?

Mustang, Hornet, F4 Phantom and P38 Lighting.

[Psycho Chicken]

Oh yeah that's right, Mirages have the stabaliser wings at the front /smacks head. Are F-4s still in service?

But it's an F-16, not a Hornet :P

[Casper]

Originally Posted by Psycho Chicken

But it's an F-16, not a Hornet :P

Ah, your right, I didnt really look at it, just assumed.

Far as I know the F4 is basically decommissioned. There might still be a few that were set up as the "Wild Weasels" in service (or in some backwards countries) but generally not. Lets face it, the F4 would be sky fodder for anything built or updated in the last 20 years.

[Psycho Chicken]

But DAMN they look tough! Not as tough as an F-111, B-52 or F-14 mind you.

[Thunder Kiss]

Here's a 1945 Mustang for sale if anyone has a lazy $US1.2 million.

[mcflux]

I was thinking "Ebay Mustang" at first...

Yeah although those Mustangs are awe-inspiring machines, I personally prefer the P38 ;)

But my all-time faves are the Spitfires, especially the high-altitude reconnaisance ones that could outpace the jets of that era (Meteors/Messerschmidt 262s <or whatever they're called> suck!) ;)

My Pa was "lucky" enough to be in a Stirling Short bomber as a navigator. Average lifespan of an RAF bomber crewmember was 23 days Stirlings did the bombing runs over Germany before the Lancasters were in service, and due to their shorter wingspan & lower power output, they were in range of both flak and night fighters (110s mainly). The rear gunner got killed on his 1st mission :gren:

Hrm... kinda going off topic here! Great photos by the way ;)

-Dave-

[mad machs]

Originally Posted by Ghia5L

I was thinking "Ebay Mustang" at first...

Yeah although those Mustangs are awe-inspiring machines, I personally prefer the P38 ;)

But my all-time faves are the Spitfires, especially the high-altitude reconnaisance ones that could outpace the jets of that era (Meteors/Messerschmidt 262s <or whatever they're called> suck!) ;)

My Pa was "lucky" enough to be in a Stirling Short bomber as a navigator. Average lifespan of an RAF bomber crewmember was 23 days Stirlings did the bombing runs over Germany before the Lancasters were in service, and due to their shorter wingspan & lower power output, they were in range of both flak and night fighters (110s mainly). The rear gunner got killed on his 1st mission :gren:

Hrm... kinda going off topic here! Great photos by the way ;)

-Dave-

Great photos alright, seen the P51D & P51B at Duxford along with many other Warbirds, another great sight & sound is the RAF's Battle Of Britain Memorial Flight with their Spitfires (merlin & griffon engined) Hurricane, Lancaster & DC3.

At the risk of going off topic slightly- Like Ghia5L my Pa flew on Bombers during WW2 with 36sqn RAF flying Wellingtons, they did one mission over Essen before transfered to Coastal Command in North Africa hunting U-Boats in the Med, they then did a stint in India & Burma. His crew was a mixed Commonwealth crew & they all stayed together as a crew until they got to India when the front turrets on the Wellingtons were removed & faired over to give the aircraft a few more knots airspeed, as a result the front gunners were assigned to other squadrons which was a pity as crew were all great mates. The front gunner on my Dads crew was an Aussie called Andy Wade from a place called Broken Hill, Dad has often wondered if Andy survived the war & if not what became of him, I wonder if anyone here lives in or around Broken Hill & could cast a glance at their war memorial to see if Andy's name is on it?
As a footnote my Dad remained in the Airforce until 1974 retiring as aircrew on H/S Nimrod MKI MPA & he's 85 this year.

[Dark Horse]

One of my all time favourite aircraft of WWII. The ability to escort the bombers all the way to Germany and back, kicking **** along the way. Such a clean design and the sound of the mighty Rolls Royce Merlin tops the aircraft off beautifully.

[One Drone]

Beautiul.. I love the lightning too. They're all (WW2 aircraft) a sight for sore eyes. They have this certain grace about them which is originally why I wanted to learn to fly.. Now the next step is to rebuild your own.

[FTE217]

Tim they are great looking Mustang's.
Thought I'd add a current model....

[Psycho Chicken]

My grand father was on a bomber in WW2, RAAF attached to the RAF. In a Landcaster I believe, his diary lists a lot of "training exercises" ;) Then it just ends after the plane he was in crashed a few miles after take off. Whole crew gone.

As for planes, love the P-51, Spitfire and the ME-109. Great pieces of machinery for the day. Mmmmmmmmm V12....

One thing I've always wondered, how the carbs set up on planes? Obviously a float system like that on a car wouldn't work to well upside down, unless they have mechanical injecton or something?