Reno Air Races 2006 Precious Metal

The unique sights and sounds of a classic P-51 racer.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• reno
• air
• races
• race
• 2006
• P51
• mustang
• aviation
• airshow
• Precious
• Metal
• airplane
• racing
• warbirds
• motor
• sport
• aircraft

[vendetta81]

hi all, i'm a former crew member and thought i'd post to give you a little insight into the airplane.

first of all, this particualr mustang was never used in combat or even put into service, the center fuselage section was made especially for the movies and was later built up as the racer in the video. better than seeing it turned into razor blades wouldn't you say frownieface?

secondly, as with most warbirds, yes if you add power to quickly it could snap roll, hence why we don't.

[moplin1]

That sound never gets old. :)

[LaymanAlec]

This aircraft shared hangar space with my fathers airplane at Lakeland Linder airport.

[shortribs11]

I'm so sorry for your loss. He was a great pilot.

[rlevitz]

@shortribs11 That was my father, Gary Levitz. The entire tail section of aircraft disintegrated as he rounded a pylon. 

[bigvee93]

@vendetta81 surely it shouldnt snap roll with the contrarotating props? was it a grffon engine?



[flubug1]

Hell Yeaaaaaahhh!!

[shortribs11]

I was in Reno for the races when a P-51 flown by Mr. Levits came apart and killed him. I never found out what happened, would you know? It too had a Griffon with counter rotating props.

[AmericanAviator]

@purple748 that's cool. that's cool as hell. It looks like something straight out of fiction. Here's hoping Thom Richard takes the checkered flag when Reno reconvenes next year!

[purple748]

@AmericanAviator It's actually a pretty straightforward system (despite the visual shock and the accompanying idea of one excessively violent mechanical thing spinning in opposition to another). I...think...Don Whittington did the mod and that would have been back in the mid 70's. Forty years of service says a lot about reliability to me!

[AmericanAviator]

@vendetta81 How much of a pain in the rear is that counter-rotating assembly on Precious Metal?

[rrhynes]

@purple748 The Red Baron was running at 500mph in 1979 with the same Griffon engine, or a variant thereof. I think it's possible, but keeping the engines in one piece is always a problem. I think the way to make them go faster is to improve the engine and that will take a whole lot of money and dedication. Billet heads, cranks, and custom induction.