The recovery operation did not take place up the beach, but near the waterline, closely look at the first picture.

Nice profile Dan. May I suggest that you remove the dorsal fin, ‘663 had not yet be fitted with one. Also, the rudder was a silver replacement.

Right in front of me and I missed it! 🙂 Thanks for pointing out the no fillet part of that 51. Here’s the redo again. Is this closer to the truth?

Dan

Step forward Mustang Warbird crew.

I am not too familiar with the inner hub workings of the Hamilton Standard or Aeroproducts propellers as fitted to the Mustang. I imagine variable pitch is achieved by a bevel gear on the root of the blade with a gear set to link to the other blades with presumably some sort of vernier adjustment. The robustness of that blade linkage such that the blades maintain pitch station with each other and transmit the thrust will be substantial.

It is hard for me to conceive that an individual blade presumably locked solid with corrosion after umpteen years in salt water can just be rotated in its bearing housing on the hub through 180 degrees, and not interact with the other blades, just by the application of a tow chain or rope. Unless the tow was applied at the bent tip, where would the ‘mechanical advantage’ come from to revolve it and why would you tow from the tip anyway?

Interesting – any other views on this?

Mark

Is it at all possible that the shifting sands bent it the other way over time? I keep thinking about those B17s and 38s locked in the ice and how the 17s were essentially torn apart and crushed by the weight and shifting of the snow and ice. Wouldn’t the weight of the sand, water etc have the potential to slowly, over time tear the 51 apart or bend a prop blade inch by inch another direction due to the weight?

Dan
Thinking out loud, or in print as the case may be

Thank you all for your enthusiastic replies.

I am extremely impressed with the artist impressions they are all fantastic. Any chance I could put these on our web site?

The web site will be updated with photographs and information on the restoration, as it progresses.

The supporter’s club news letter will include a lot more information, articles, and photographs. Details of how to join will be on the web site. I will let everyone know when it is up and running.

On the subject of the bent propellers, both aircraft had there props bent backwards after landing, due to the engines still producing power on landing. After the recovery the blades are photographed pointing the opposite way, this could be caused by damage in the propeller dome due to the landing, and I agree lots of people playing with the aircraft.

Well take care everyone and look forward to hearing from you soon.

David Kingshott

The Mustang Restoration Company Ltd.

No problem on my end using the profiles I did, although based on the latest photos of 663 I need to do some fixing of that one.

Dan

I hope this isn’t a breach of forum ettiquette, but I couldn’t sleep and decided to take a shot at the left side view of Da Quake. Hope you don’t mind Will.

Dan

Isn’t that “Da Quake” the 55th FG P51 that was recovered and is being ‘restored’?

Dan

Best I can do. Can’t find the classic hand on the prop in front of this Spit, so the in the cockpit shot, July 86 at Coltishall will have to do. Photo taken by Peter Cowell btw.

Techically an up close and personal look at AR501 in 1980 was the real catalyst for my Spitfire fanaticism, but getting in the cockpit of the B of B Flight Spit II didn’t hurt the cause 🙂

Dan

Hi

the bomb racks of the P-51 could both be used for bombs and external fuel tanks – there were no provisions for any centerline stores, as already said by landyman.

Not very familiar with 617 Sqdn, I assume that when, as you said, the ‘borrowed’ Mustang was used on several occasions, it received some sort of RAF markings.

My question here in fact is why ‘borrowing’ a P-51 from the USAAF when the RAF had Mustangs (Merlin engined) in their inventory, too ?

Just my 2 cents
Martin / Swiss Mustangs

I’d suspect that it was in fact an RAF Merlin Mustang and that over time it evolved from that into a ‘borrowed from the USAAF” Mustang, when I suppose it was a lend lease bird instead.

Dan

Two adds from the September 26, 1940 issue of Flight that I found in the basement of a used bookstore a while back. All kinds of these adds but I went with the Rolls Royce and Vickers Armstrong adds.

Dan