airforce

XT-29, s/n 49-1911 (MSN 179). Converted to VT-29A. Assigned All Weather Section, Flight Test Division, Wright Air Development Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH. Used to evaluate the aircraft for all-weather flying capabilities 29 August 1951 to 12 March 1952. Last served with 162nd TFS, 178th TFG, Springfield Municipal Airport, OH. To MASDC as TB039 Sep 6, 1974. Declared excess 16 September 1975. To Dross Metals Inc 7 April 1977 for scrapping.

Photo in front of a North American P-51K Mustang. The K-model is distinguished from the P-51D by its (problematic) Aeroproducts propeller (see logo on the propeller blades). See Tom Griffith's comment below.

Sorry...this is a P-51H. It, too, like the P-51K, has an Aeroproducts prop on it, but, this prop has a much broader chord than the one on the P-51K. The dead giveaway is...zoom in on the photo, and look at the air intake doors on the lower nose - you'll see that there are 33 total holes in the door (3 rows of 7 with 2 rows of 6 holes in each door). P-51Ks (and B/C/Ds) have 8 holes in 4 rows for a total of 32 holes. I didn't need to see that door, though, because the prop tells the story.

Tom Griffith That is outstanding. Thank you for the correction.

I'm sorry to sound like "Mr Know-it-All" but as much as I love WWII aircraft (and ones from the years immediately before and after WWII), nothing comes close to the whole "Mustang Family." I've loved them since about 1955 when I was 7 or 8. Just yesterday, I got another Mustang book in the mail...it's an "addiction," I guess! Thanks for your courtesy - you have no idea how some folks will hurl insults at me for even gently pointing out an issue. You may be interested to know, that I've just "scored" a major victory of sorts. I was able, by providing concrete historical facts to the Curator at the National Museum of the US Air Force to get them to change the sign on their A-36A from saying "A-36A Apache," to "A-36A Mustang." They have not changed the name on their website, but maybe next month when I visit the NMUSAF, I can talk to the guy face-to-face and once again, gently steer them in the direction to get the website fixed, too.

Tom Griffith The more and the more accurate the information, the better. The A-36 "Apache" saga is a bit of a struggle. With tagging/descriptions, etc., sometimes the vernacular becomes a case of "print the legend," as a matter of access. Of course, the danger is, that is not accurate with respect to the contemporaneous formal and informal references to the aircraft during the war. I've tried to tag and identify as many of these photos as possible in my spare time. There are so many Mustang photos in the SDASM's Flickr Commons collection that you could probably lose yourself here for a good amount of time, like I have. Looking forward to any additional information you can share. Best regards.

Info from cgibin.rcn.com/jeremy.k/cgi-bin/gzUsafSearch.pl?target=71... 71-0291 McDonnell Douglas F-15B-4-MC Eagle MSN 0012/B002. Built as the TF-15A. First flight Oct 18, 1973. Assigned to the combined McDD/USAF F-15 Joint Test Force at Edwards AFB, May74 to Apr75. The aircraft was used for the development of the FAST pack (conformal fuel tanks). To Europe for a demonstration tour Sep74. Displayed at Farnborough Air Show Sep74. Bailed Feb76 to McDonnell Douglas as a demonstrator and test aircraft. Painted 1976 with special bicentennial markings involved in an extensive around-the-world sales tour, Sep76. Displayed at Farnborough Air Show Sep76. Redesignated Dec 1, 1977 as the F-15B. Converted 1979 to the Hughes/McDD private venture F-15E Strike Eagle prototype; a program that was initially known as the F-15DRF (Duel Role Fighter). The aircraft was to be equipped with an APG-63 ground mapping radar, a (partial) glass cockpit and FAST packs. First flight Jul 8, 1980. To Europe for a demonstration tour Sep 1980. Displayed at Farnborough Air Show Sep 1980. An official USAF program started in March 1981 and was known as the ETF (Enhanced Tactical Fighter), which was to replace the F-111. This competition ended in a fly-off between the Strike Eagle and the F-16XL. The aircraft was deployed to Edwards AFB to join the evaluation program; testing was also conducted from Eglin AFB. On 24 February 1984, the Strike Eagle was declared the winner of the competition. In the late 1980s, 71-0291 was involved in the integration of the LANTIRN pod and the F-15E weapons system. In May 1991 the aircraft was inscribed ‘F-15RTD Peek Eagle’. This was a private McDD venture; the aircraft was fitted and tested with a centerline pod with reconnaissance equipment and a data link. 71-0291 was last noted in active service in June 1992, although the aircraft still was on Boeing charge in May 1999. The airframe was noted in a compound on the corner of Marchbank Road and Macon, outside the Warner Robins ALC, Robins AFB, GA in August 2001. Used as a BDRT at Robins AFB. To the Alsalam Aircraft Co, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on 6 November 2002. It was possibly used for some time as a GIA again but eventually restored and painted into RSAF markings for the RSAF museum at Riyadh. Marked with serial ‘1315’