Are you a Composite Connoisseur with a gift for
Graphite? Well... If ye be, then Murdo Cameron has a deal you
just might be interested in. Mr. Cameron has developed a
full-size, all composite, 2 seat, turboprop, kit-built replica of
the WW II P-51 Mustang.
He has completed the tooling of $3 million worth of graphite
molds and produced all the parts needed for the first two
airplanes.
Now comes a little problem......
Murdo, who flies Boeing 767's for a major airline when he isn't
working on the "Pony Project", does NOT have the time
to undertake putting together the airplanes. ANOTHER part of the
problem is that the uncured graphite he is using to make the
parts has a limited shelf life. This takes on a new importance
when you consider that he has over 1 million dollars worth of the
material in a large freezer at his shop! Needless to say, Murdo
is working feverishly to turn this material into parts before the
deadline expires. He says that it will take him 8 months to a
year to use up the uncured graphite, and he can't do that and
build airplanes at the same time.
Here is his deal..... He says....
"I am looking for someone to put together the first two
airplanes and in return, that someone will get to keep one of the
two planes and continue as a builder center... maybe the ONLY
builder center.... for Flight Training Devices" (Mr.
Cameron's kit company)
"I would prefer to work with someone who wants to get in on
the ground floor, and is interested in putting together a builder
center", Cameron said.
He figures that someone who knows his way around composite
aircraft construction could have one of his P-51 replicas flying
within a year.
I'm just NOT that cool!.......But if YOU are, you can contact
Murdo and Flight Training Devices via fax at 310-640-8490.
Here are some of the important points about this aircraft:
1. This is a full size reproduction of
the P-51G, one of the lightest and fastest P-51 models, which
makes use of the more efficient wing from the P-51H. This wing
features the distinctive "kink" that was present in the
D model but absent in the G model. It IS a replica, but not a
duplicate of a WWII P-51. No rivets on the glassy surface of this
beast.
2. The P-51DH is made of IM7, the latest and most technically
advanced graphite. This airplane will weigh less than a third of
what the original P-51 weighed.
3. The airplane is made in only 12 major parts, which is the
fewest part count of any airplane in the world.
4. It will make use of the readily available Lycoming T53
turboprop engine developing 1400 horsepower for the first few
aircraft, with a 750 hp. version available for the pilot that
doesn't need the performance and cost of the higher rated engine.
This engine is best known for powering the Bell Huey Helicopter,
and over 19,000 of these engines have been built since the mid
1950's. Since it weighs only 625 pounds, as opposed to the nearly
2500 lbs. of the Rolls Royce Merlin, it fits nicely into the
lightweight composite material theme. Murdo has acquired 107 of
these engines.
5. Performance will be equal to, or better than, the original
P-51G! Pricing is still uncertain, but with engine and full
instrumentation, ready to fly, should be about 1/3 to 1/2 the
cost of a museum quality P-51 Mustang. Certainly not inexpensive
by any stretch of the imagination.....but hell... this isn't your
run of the mill Kitplane!
6. This a LARGE 2 seat aircraft, according to Murdo, and should
not be compared to the scaled Mustangs, which in reality are 35%
to 43% scale. If a comparison was to be made, this airplane
should be compared to the PC-P, Beech MK2, and the Embre Tucano H
Model.
7. Safety factor is kerosene vs. AV gas, and turbine reliability
vs. piston.
8. The advantage to Murdo's airplane would be the low operating
cost, which would run 1/10 the cost of operating a metal P-51. He
states that the average pilot would never even need to overhaul
the engine.
- 36k .Jpg of Composite Fuselage pieces with canopy
- 51k .Jpg of Composite parts layout.
-38k Jpg. of full-size Fiberglass "TOOL PROOF" for
P-51HD kit.
- 45k Jpg. of Murdo's Daughter Heather with Fiberglass P-51DH
Proof.
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