January 13, 2005 at 3:05 pm
With the Italian Air Force Museum – the metal tubes at the front of the nose are retractable – for the observers feet and legs! Have you ever seen anything so bizarre!
By: italian harvard - 13th January 2005 at 17:16
i always enjoyed swiss liveries, I find them so elegant!
Alex
By: Swiss Mustangs - 13th January 2005 at 17:03
affirmative !
HB-GAC at Bern 1st April 1976 – used for photo-mapping – ex Swiss AF – now in the Swiss AF Museum
Martin
By: italian harvard - 13th January 2005 at 16:53
got my mail martin? 🙂
Alex
By: Swiss Mustangs - 13th January 2005 at 16:02
they come from here
Martin, I have a data plate of a former ITAF pilot removed from a scrapped P-51, want to give a glance at it? 😉
I even got from the same ol’ chap a tracer bullet of .50 cal coming from a shooting range area used by P-51s(sorry, F-51s) here in italy.Alex
Please ?! PM inbound !
Martin
By: italian harvard - 13th January 2005 at 16:00
they come from here
Martin, I have a data plate of a former ITAF pilot removed from a scrapped P-51, want to give a glance at it? 😉
I even got from the same ol’ chap a tracer bullet of .50 cal coming from a shooting range area used by P-51s(sorry, F-51s) here in italy.
Alex
By: DazDaMan - 13th January 2005 at 15:48
Might it be similar to the tailwheel accidents that have happened with Spitfires in the past?
By: Swiss Mustangs - 13th January 2005 at 15:47
Operational Mustangs with the Italian Air Force normally had rectractable tail-wheels. This particular aircraft, a long-serving veteran, had the tail wheel locked down and the doors removed towards the end of its service carreer.
Many US ANG aircraft saw this ‘modification’, too – I have to look up facts, but it has something to do with a PITA design of the tail-wheel mechanism.
Martin
and THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE PICS ! Credit ?
By: italian harvard - 13th January 2005 at 15:46
i guess so 🙂
By: DazDaMan - 13th January 2005 at 15:37
This it?
http://www.warbirdregistry.org/spitregistry/spitfire-mk805.html
By: italian harvard - 13th January 2005 at 15:35
uh, the spit we have here is a MkIX and is a D-Day vet! Seems like it was in charge with a RAF polish squadron..
Alex
By: italian harvard - 13th January 2005 at 15:29
this is just a model kit, but to give u the idea..

those fairings are linked in the middle and have a handle, u simply push the thing down with yr feet and pull up with yr hand.
As per the P-51
I have my pics too but cant find them in this mess..
I know some nice stories about this mustang and I have one question about the tailwheel..
The P-51 recently received a painting refresh for markings and stencils, the friend of mine who did it made from scratch even the small inspection placard on the spinner. We had a question we couldnt solve though: how comes the tailwheel doors are removed? I didnt go watching if the tailwheel is fixed or retractable, but maybe u can help us solve this lil mistery..
Alex
By: DazDaMan - 13th January 2005 at 15:23
Reminds me a wee bit of that two-engined B-17! 😀
By: italian harvard - 13th January 2005 at 15:20
this is an all italian customization I think, and it comes directly from the SM.79 Sparviero, pics will follow..
Alex
By: Swiss Mustangs - 13th January 2005 at 15:16
Really weird !
is that at Vigna di Valle ?
any shots of the P-51D there ?; need some for my website…….
calling Italian Harvard, too 😉
Mille grazie
Saluti
Martin