EXPERIENCE THE
MAGNIFICENT
WARBIRD
HISTORY
A TRULY UNIQUE PRESENT FOR A LOVED ONE - GIFT VOUCHERS AVAILABLE
One Of the Greatest Warplanes Ever Built
The Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation built 200 Mustang aircraft in Victoria under licence from North American Aviation in the USA. The American designation was P-51D. Historically, this aircraft is one of the greatest warplanes ever built and upon its introduction, proved to be one of the turning points in World War II.
Australian-Made
The decision to manufacture the Mustang in Australia was made during World War II as a result of the outstanding success as a long-range escort fighter on European and Pacific missions. However, WWII finished before the Australian-built Mustangs were completed.
The first Australian Mustangs were deployed to Japan as part of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force and then entered combat during the Korean War. The last squadron in the RAAF to operate the Mustang was No.24 City of Adelaide, a reserve unit, that continued with the type until June 1960.
The Nitty-Gritty
(for those stastically inclined)
Powerplant
Packard Merlin V-1650-7 12 Cylinder Vee, liquid cooled engine. Engine rating 1590HP at 8500ft, and 1370HP and 21,400ft.
Propeller
Hamilton Standard Four Bladed Constant Speed Propeller of 11ft 2in (3·4m) diameter.
Fuel
Internal Fuel Capacity 780 litres or 172 Imp Gals, with provision for external drop tanks of 75 US Gals (284 litres) & 110 US Gals (416 litres) respectively.
Armament
6 x .50 caliber Colt Browning Machine Guns. Inboard guns contained 400 rounds per gun & the rest – 270 rounds per gun. Underwing hardpoints for six, 5 inch rockets or two 500lb (227kg) bombs.
Performance
Maximum Take Off Weight is 10,500 pounds or 4763kg.
Max IAS/Mach at sea level 438 kts IAS/Mach 0.77
Max speed in a dive at 9,000ft 500 kts TAS or 925 km/h
Max speed straight and level at 10,000ft 348kts TAS or 643 km/h
Max speed straight and level at 25,000ft 380kts TAS or 703 km/h
Maximum Rate of Climb is 3475ft/min at 5000ft with time to 20000ft at 7·3 mins & 30000ft at 12·6 mins.
Maximum Altitude is 41900 feet or 12771 metres. Maximum Range at 25000 feet with internal fuel only is 840 nautical miles or 1530 km.
Maximum Range at 25000 feet with external fuel is 1435 nautical miles or 2655 km.
The Australian-built Mustang A68-110 was delivered to the Royal Australian Air Force.
Over the next few years, it saw very little service while the Allied Occupation of Japan and the Korean War raged. It’s transformative story was yet to unfold!
A68-110 was struck off charge and sold, where it sat dormant for almost 40 years.
During this time, our little fighter was resting and recharging for it’s impending triumphant return to the world of aviation!
The beginning of a 7 year restoration by Sandora Aviation in North Brisbane, Queensland.
During this time it was modified into a 2 seat configuration so a passenger can be carried behind the pilot. At this stage it was also repainted to represent a US-built
P-51D counterpart; the A68-769.
The history of A68-769 was just as fascinating, having served as the personal aircraft of the Commanding Officer of 82 Squadron in Japan and then later with 77 Squadron during the Korean War.
The newly revived A68-110 repainted as A68-769 took it’s first post-restoration flight with the civil registration VH-MFT.
From this time it has been based at the Caboolture Warplane Museum, Caboolture Airport and continues to regularly take up passengers for the flight of their life.
The newly revived A68-110 repainted as A68-769 took it’s first post-restoration flight with the civil registration VH-MFT.
From this time it has been based at the Caboolture Warplane Museum, Caboolture Airport and continues to regularly take up passengers for the flight of their life.
Images provided courtesy of
Mark Greenmantle Photography