Wiley Post 8-29-09 P-51 Mustang "Miss America"

[mattskinner74]

@ Flinch...Thanks for the post! Sounds like you had an awesome time! Glad you had the opportunity. Every now and then, Hisey takes someone up in it and i'll definitely take him up on the offer.

[Flinch223]

Back in 1976 Howie Keef owned and flew Miss America at the Wenatchee WA air show. My sister was ATC there so I got a box seat. I won a $2 raffle for a ride in Miss America. Was offered $115 for my ticket - no way! What a ride! Pulled 4 G's (Howie was talking over the intercom all the while), buzzed the field at 380 knots.

Howie apologized for not doing a loop or roll, said there might be debris in wing cavity that would lock up the controls, and only he had a 'chute! Heck of a gentleman!

[davidlopresti]

Howie Keeefe the original Miss America pilot will be at LoPresti First Saturday in Sebastian FL June 4th.

[F15Eaglejet1]

BigFishingShop I believe this was the same Mustang that was there... The original Miss America I think, was solid white, and very shortly after that was changed to red white and blue with the wing design and stars still the same, the horizontal stabs and fin were white with a bat wing design in blue, and after a crash, was still the same design from the stabs and fin forward, but then was given the wave design on the fin and stabs that she now possesses...

[BigFishingShop]

Is that the same Miss America that was at Van Nuys in the early - mid '70s ?? different paint scheme for sure.

[mattskinner74]

@BigFishingShop Im not for sure...I'll find out and let you know. I bet it is though. It's been through several different paint schemes over time.

[BigFishingShop]

@mattskinner74 Thanks, yeah there were some cool birds there, they also had all the F4U Corsairs used on the Ba Ba Black Sheep series and others, really beautiful.

[valkyrie321]

BTW, good video. Thank you for sharing.

[mattskinner74]

Thanks! Your welcome! :)

[valkyrie321]

Oh, absolutely. It is very doubtful that pilots, especially of this particular plane itself, would hand over the controls to someone who was not aware of this. They like to see their babies taken care of.

[valkyrie321]

Notice the gear fairing doors down after the engine is shut down? ;)

[tf51d]

This is because of the loss of hydraulic pressure after shutdown. Then gravity takes over. (The flaps will also drop) It will be gradual, unless the the hydraulic pressure is bled off in which case they will drop immediately like in this video. This is done to reduce the wear and tear on the hydraulic system.

[valkyrie321]

It is easy to find a rookie P-51 pilot that way. Just look for the puddle of hydraulic fluid under his plane.

Anyways, just pointing this out. Not many people realize it.

[tf51d]

I only responded because of the question mark at the end of your comment. I was pretty sure you already knew the answer! :LOL

[valkyrie321]

I was trying to elicit that response, so it was all good :D

[triggerjoe65]

Hahaha! You finally caught her! Congratulations!

[mattskinner74]

Thanks! Finally got her landing. Next time i'll get her starting up!!

[flyboyandre]

That's outstanding!!!