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I’ve got a P-51 flight on my bucket list. You can get an hour of flight time, including taking the stick, for around $3000.

I’ve got a P-51 flight on my bucket list. You can get an hour of flight time, including taking the stick, for around $3000.

I hope you fly one someday. Share the pics,OK?

In my earlier Alaska flying days, I belonged to a flight club that owned a P-51D. I have logged just over 20 hours in one.

Believe me, if you can ever swing it, do whatever you have to FLY ONE before you pass on! You won't be disappointed!

The second you hit the switch, the sound of that power plant coming to life, and the sound it makes in the Cockpit will make you just want to sit and listen for a while, before you even lead the throttle in to taxi.

You can't go to full throttle either, until your takeoff roll is about half way complete. The torque and “P” factor is violent if you make the mistake of throttling up too quickly.

But once she is in the air, you will be awe stricken at the ease and beauty of this tremendous aircraft. Nothing handles as smoothly or gracefully. The engine and airframe are as one, and the response is indescribable.

The P-51 is somewhat prone to drift off of trim, so it is important to stay on top of it, since they are hard to handle if they are out of trim. Especially when landing. Wheel landings can be rather squirrely, (Because of the small vertical stabilizer and rudder) so it is best to flare long and touch the runway in a semi-three point. The nose also blocks out most of your forward vision after the tail wheel touches down. So be sure you master a side vision landing/taxi technique before you fly one.

This is no aircraft for a limited tricycle geared trainee either. It will eat your lunch in a big hurry. Nothing but the most experienced conventional gear pilots should attempt to solo in one.

But even so, you sound like you have the necessary experience to handle it. Good luck in your pursuit! You will love that decision. I guarantee it.