P-51 Mustang (Tf-51d)

This video is a recording with my GoPro of my flight in a P-51 Mustang fighter, the flight was a 30 minute flight, but my seat time was close to 1 hr. I have condensed the video with some speed ups to shorten the recording. It was an awesome experience as I got to pilot the plan along with experiencing aerobatic with the pilot in control..

Powerplant Packard Merlin V-1650-7, 1300 hp

[ramosel]

Sat on my back deck having lunch today (Sierras) and heard the unmistakable sound of a warbird approaching from the east. Looked up and saw a Mustang. Either these guys had moved east or Steve Seghetti (Jelly Belly) was coming home from Reno to Vacaville. Too much glare to get anything but a silhouette. Good job Chuck. (Me, ex Navy, Scooter and Turkey jock).

A few years back a handful of us got together and bought a ride with Steve for a friend dying of brain cancer. Hope your grin was as big!

Saw those hangers. Knew you started at Moffet!

[motorof]

A truly gorgeous aircraft. Some designs just give me the chills, this is one of them.

It seems so cool now but just imagine real air to air combat. 50 cal. bullets are serious business. Thank you to all who flew one of these beauties into harms way.

[ChrisB]

P51 and Spit - my two favorite war birds. You sure lucked out getting that flight (leaving aside cost!) - I am envious! Another flight of a lifetime. Looked like a perfect day... fan-bleeping-tastic! Makes me think of the phrase - "suckin' gas and haulin' ass". :)
Great to see Chuck, thanks.

[swarfrat]

Wow! A flight in a P-51 Mustang! Pretty cool! There isn't a better aircraft engine that the Rolls Royce Merlin engine in that bird! They should have shown you how to read some of the instruments. You could tell how fast you were going with the airspeed indicator. Then there's the altimeter to tell your altitude above sea level. Finally, there's the vertical speed indicator that tells how many feet per minute you are descending or ascending.
Just before takeoff, he was doing the run up. All piston aircraft engines have a magneto ignition system. They have two "mags" and each cylinder has two spark plugs. Before takeoff, you advance the throttle to a certain rpm, and turn the ignition switch from "both" to "left" to test the left mag, then back to "both" then to "right" and back to both. When on one magneto, there is a certain allowable drop in rpm. If that drop in exceeded, you head back to the barn.
Thanks for sharing your video. Yes, I am also an aircraft nut . . . especially WWII birds! (I took flying lessons in the 1970s for a while. I flew a Cessna 150.)
Have a good one! Thanks again!
Dave

[VintageMachinery]

Thanks for the ride along! What an awesome experience! I would love to do that one day....

[jorgeconcheyro]

What a fantastic video Chuck!!!! Thanks so much for sharing

[zephyrold]

Hi Chuck, Oh mann you did it again, They say that when Göring saw this plane over Berlin to protect the bombers he knew the war was lost, thanks for taking us along, all the best.

[kmcwhq]

Wait a and you didn't get to fire the guns??
Thanks for this Chuck, so cool, AND you got it on video, you can re-live this for years to come.
Totally close as I'll ever come to flying in a P51.
And I was must cost like $500! LOL!

[TheAyrCaveShop]

Wow what a ride!
Chuck, I live down the road from you in Campbell / Cambrian area. Always enjoy watching the 17 & 24 flying around the bay area during memorial week. Occasionally the 51 will fly by. My grandfather was a B-17 gunner in WW2, he would never talk about it to us grandkids, even my father knows very few details. It was a job that needed to be done and they just did it.
Strange I just got back home from picking up a bandsaw from an old guy in Fremont my neighbor knows, He's 99 and still going strong, he was a P-51 fighter pilot in WW2 flew 53 missions. Saw you posted this when I got home, kinda strange coincidence. thanks for sharing, that was a great ride.

Dean

[billlee]

Quite amazing, thanks for taking us along!

[paulatkins]

Thanks for sharing! Once in a lifetime. The B17 flight must have been great too!

[skiptracer]

That's better than getting a few birthdays back. Wow great video Mr. B -Jim

[MikeBramm]

Man, that was awesome! I am so jealous. Thanks for sharing.

[AmateurRedneckWorkshop]

I got your number now Chuck. You are out recruiting for the California air force. Looks like a really fun flight.

[turningpoint]

Someone disliked this? My gawd they have no soul at all. Something like this ride is on my bucket list but likely never gonna happen. I'm more than envious Chuck.

[kenwolfe]

Awesome, Awesome, Awesome! Chuck, I am envious! That’s my all time favorite WW2 aircraft. The crotch shot is excused....since you had just received your bailout instructions!

[pjt]

Whaaaa ohhw man that was awesome 😎
Really love this engine 💪

[ddcd]

Great video.  A once in a lifetime opportunity.  I'm green with envy.  Thanks for sharing.   Dan

[enzo]

I did ths one about 10 years ago, same organization. Did the B17, B24, Stearman and the B29. It was MUCH less expsinsive then, about $400 per ride. We did the TF51 in formation. There were 4 aircaraft, we were the tail end charlie.. Was sickening to watch the other aircraft in formation, best to keep your eyes outside or on the instrument panel. I thought the bes flight of all was the B17. The one I was in had no plastic around the side guns, and the wind was just blowing by. You could actually put your head out in the wind and listen to those big engines roar!! Thanks for the video. I enjoy your channel very much including all the other machinists.. Larry Brunetti.

[carabela]

Thanks for sharing. I would have lost my lunch on those barrel rolls.