Restored P-51 Mustang damaged following landing gear collapse on landing

Text Book indeed, could have been far worse.

It is indeed the same Mustang that Ed Shipley had restored and owned in the 90’s (still the same paint, even). It was one of the earlier Mustang restorations done by Pacific Fighters (quite authentic for its day). Shipley sold the aircraft to Mike Henningsen in 2003, and Henningsen flew it regularly from 2003 until this past spring when he sold it to its current owner, Jeff Pino. While Mike Henningsen owned it, you could pretty-much guarantee that you would see the aircraft at Oshkosh every year.

The belly-landing, and the results there of, look no worse/just the same as when Tom Wood had to belly-land his Mustang in 2003, and it was flying again within a year.

Wonder if that was Ed Shipleys old P51?

Maybe it was a U/C failure and he elected to land wheels up rather than risk an unknown result.

a great job done by the pilot…..not dissmilar to the one that A68-104 did a couple of years ago…..http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVvB1p-F-qs

Got to say though, beautiful landing there. I’ve seen worse landings with the wheels down!

Regards;
Steve

Lucky there was no fire seeing as the pilot was only wearing shorts and a tee shirt!

It is kind of hard to have a gear collapse when there was no gear down to begin with, only the inner doors were down. There was a Skyraider flying in Texas, it may have had something to do with it.

Did anybody see a French Skyraider in the neighbourhood, perhaps?? :angel:
Aerovet

Not too badly damaged and nobody hurt. An excellent outcome, considering!