Thread: P51D MUSTANG Flight Experience Review and Pictures

This review is on something that can be done before or after a cruise as it is located in Kissimmee, Florida. South of Orlando, Florida.

The flight was done through Stallion 51 (Stallion51.com) located at the municipal airport Kissimmee, Florida. We did it Thursday afternoon August 25, 2005.

I would like to express my thanks to the pilot (Ed), the ground personnel, and all the operations personnel that were involved in arranging this for me. The facilities were imaculate, the airplane was spotless, and everyone involved was really concerned that I had a great time and everything was done in a safe manner. They went to the point that they tucked a damp towell and an ice cold water bottle down in a slot next to my seat just in case I needed it.

The program is done in three parts: Pre Flight, Flying, then Post Flight Review

PRE FLIGHT:
Ed met us downstairs and then we went up to the briefing room where we discussed my experience levels and what I hoped to accomplish during the flight. He used a laptop to present a program as to how the flight would progress and to cover safety procedures.

Ruth and my son stayed up in the observation area while ed and I went down to the aircraft where he preflighted the aircraft explaining to me what he was doing and why. He was very receptive to questions and did not treat me like a dummy (even though I am not a pilot). I was strapped into the rear seat and the parachute was attached by the ground crew. I was briefed on how to get free of the harnesses and bail out procedures and crash landing procedures (always a confidence builder). My helmet was fittted on the sun visor dropped and the intercom set up and told how to use it. He told me that everything I would say during the flight will go on the tape recording that is being made.

Ed went through the startup procedures over the intercom an I tried to follow him. I found the clock and the altitude meter........

FLIGHT:
The engine was started and the adrenline started to run wild. We taxied out to the runway with some small talk. He lined up on the run way and told me to hold on. I later learned that he did a HIGH ENERGY TAKEOFF with a bank to the right and an almost vertical climb. All I could say was S... am I going to have a great day.

He took it up to about 1,500 feet and said "You have the Plane" He told me which direction to go toward using landmarks or clouds and what altitude to climb to. We climber to about 8,000 feet and then the fun started. We were between 7 to 10,000 feet all day..

Some of the manuevers that I performed were:
Turns
Steep Turns
Slow FLight
Stalls
Wing Over
Aileron Roll
Barrel Roll
Cuban 8
Loop
Immelman
Split-S
Overhead Break
And some I don't think there is a name for.......

Ed talked me through any maneuver that I wanted him to otherwise he just gave me directions and let me enjoy myself. Since he knew I wanted to take some pictures whenever I requested he took the stick so I could get some pictures. Somewhere during the inverted flight the camera came out of its storage area and the ground crew found it when we got back on the ground...

The airplane was actually easier to fly than the T-6 Texan that I took up last month. It was beautifuly responsive and handled like a dream. It was everything that I expected it to be.

The stall was a real rush since you could feel the aircraft begin to fall and ed told me to get the nose down and let go of the stick and the airplane leveled itself out.

The inverted flight was awesome and did not scare the hell out of me like the T-6 Texan. The Texan stalls out when it goes inverted and the pilot did not tell me that until it stalled and I scream "OH S....". He got a good laught...But I enjoyed the hell out of it.

The P51 is equipped with cameras in the Cockpit, Horizontal and Vertical Stabilizers that ed could switch from one to the other and he did a good job of making a movie of the entire flight.

The weather turned nasty because of the Hurrican moving into South Florida so we had to cut the flight short (38 minutes). We headed back to the airport and landed. I flew as long as I could and he took over as we entered the landing pattern.

POST FLIGHT BRIEFING:
The retrieved the film from the camera and they played it for me and my family and explained what was going on on what he thought of my compitency. He said he was impressed on how I did considering my only experience is with flight simulatiors. He was able to validate his praise by showing me how when I came out of rolls or loops the wings were level and I was close the the horizon (where you are supposed to be).

The gave me a certificate, picture of us flying, and the tape. Since the flight was cut short by the weather they offered me a refund or another 30 minute flight free. Naturally I am going to schedule another 30 minutes with ED after
he gets back from a couple air shows. He is taking the F86 Sabre Jet to a show.... (It is only a single seater)(nuts)....

COMMENTS:
I would highly recomment this if you have the desire and can affort it. The day was not cheap but it was money well spent as how many people alive today can say that the have flows a REAL WWII P51D Mustang.

I am now a member of that small club and have every intention of doing this again, and again (at leat until Ruth hides the credit cards and check book.

This is one of those experiences that you set up for the person that has everything and you cannot thing what to get for them. The day I flew the man that did the flight in the morining flew down from Chicago just for this experience.

I can only say that this is one of the best things that I have ever done with my clothes completely on.....

Link to pictures:
http://community.webshots.com/user/jimvrhovac