Scooter Yoak’s 1,400-hp P-51 Mustang at rest prior to an action-packed Warbirds over Monroe Airshow held in Monroe, North Carolina, Nov. 11-12, 2023. This iconic crowd-thriller was built from more than 200 Mustang parts by father and son team Bill and Scooter Yoak.
P-51
Picture of the Day: P-51 on takeoff
Matthew Baker submitted this photo and note: “This photo was taken at Bartow Executive Airport (KBOW) in Florida, which has a long history with the P-51 back to World War II and started in 1943 as a training facility. To this day those same runways still have P-51s using them.”
Vintage Bardahl Special has some new tricks
The 2023 National Championship Air Races attracted a number of vintage racing aircraft to the final event held at storied Reno/Stead Field (KRTS), including the pristine white P-51D Mustang known as the Bardahl Special.
Picture of the Day: A new perspective
Kent Shiemaker submitted this photo and note: “Another view of the beautiful P-51.”
World War II pilot surprised with visit from P-51
Officials with the Commemorative Air Force Airbase Georgia flew its P-51 Mustang fighter to Florida recently to help surprise a World War II veteran and former P-51 pilot who was celebrating his 100th birthday.
Jimmy Stewart’s Mustang is the best of old and new
It’s a wonderful life for Jimmy Stewart’s newly restored Mustang, now ensconced in the Dakota Territory Air Museum in Minot, North Dakota.
Picture of the Day: The powerfully elegant P-51
Will Lopez submitted this photo and note: “I saw this beautiful P-51 at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2023, my first time at Oshkosh.”
A famed Mustang takes to the air again
The P-51C “Thunderbird,” one of the most recognizable Mustangs from the post-war era, recently had its first flight after its restoration. Warren Pietsch, a founding board member of the Dakota Territory Air Museum and a famed warbird pilot, hired AirCorps Aviation to complete the restoration of his P-51C. Pilot Bernie Vasquez returned the 1949 Bendix race winner to the air in early June 2023.
Heritage Flight to kick off Super Bowl
For the first time, an Air Force Heritage Flight of five aircraft will fly over the 2022 Super Bowl during the National Anthem.