Cavalier Mustang cockpit colors

[Martinnfb]

Fuerza Aérea Salvadoreña

only one two seater was supplied to FAS, it was TF-51D FAS400

 

 

[BlrwestSiR]

On 6/5/2023 at 12:39 PM, Martinnfb said:

 44-13257, NACA 108, beautifully restored to flying condition.  Needless to say that the healthy amount of flying P-51s are actually Cavaliers.

 

1944: Manufactured as a P-51D-5A AF S/N 44-13257 (NAA S/N 109-26890) 
1944 Dec, Modified by NAA for high speed research. 
1944: NACA, NACA 108 - dive tests until 1949
1957: Nov, sold surplus, N4222A, Charles Snydor
1959: May, N4222A, Trans-Florida Aviation, Sarasota, Fl 
1959-67: Stored 
1967: Dec 07, N4222A, Remanufactured, Cavalier Mustang II prototype. 
1968: Weapons testing at Apalachicola, FL. 
1968-71: Chase plane for "Enforcer" project. 
1972: N51DL, Lindsay Newspapers Inc, Sarasota FL 
1980: N51DL, Lindair Inc, Sarasota FL

That's very glossy. 

[Martinnfb]

They started as such, however under the South American sun they faded super fast.

 

[JohnB]

As near as I can see the Cavalier F-51's did not have anything except lap belts and no shoulder harnesses in the rear cockpit. That's the way I'm doing my build and hoping I don't find out later to the contrary.

[Martinnfb]

Looks like two different aeroplanes John, could you specify the serials.

Also the lower picture harness looks like a retrofit , post 1986, when FAA placed harness  requirements in effect.

 

 

[JohnB]

I don't know their serials Martin. Yes, it's two different a/c.

[Martinnfb]

The first picture shows the civil version of Cavalier setup, you can see the air-conditioning vents in the canopy frame. It is  44-73454 N2051D 

 

The second one is not a Cavalier Mustang, 45-11495 N5551D

 

Personally I wouldn't be so hooked on the second seat story, unless it was a dedicated two seater or converted /in field modification. Also the seat used by Cavalier was of a similar design as the front Warren-MacArthur 243 seat. The conversion set has it wrong.

[BlrwestSiR]

Martin, what would you suggest for the second seat in the Turbo then? Cut down a spare kit seat or something AM?

[Martinnfb]

A million dollar question :), I would say based on the pictures I posted at the very beginning and by John's first picture above, the seat was fabricated in the house. Back of it and the head rest is visible, so as the shoulder harness, yet the bottom part is not. It would be safe to say, that it has bucket just like the front one to accommodate the parachute. 

 

[Martinnfb]

Another picture of the executive Mustang seat. Those cushions would not be the case for military orders.

 

. 

[Martinnfb]

An old Airfix Annual Magazine, I mean OLD one, before my times old  contained this article. Our hobby has moved a notch, but I am going to hang it here anyway. Purely for nostalgic reasons.

 

[Martinnfb]

Just bumped into this one, left side of the N6167U. It took only several decades LOL