Thunder Mustang, Titan Mustang and Spitfire Replicas

[MadMaz]

Hi Eric

This is a copy of an e-mail I received almost a year ago from Campbell Aero
Classics that I thought you might be interested in - Many different aircraft
from Ardmore frequently exercise right over our place here in rural Pukekohe -
the Thunder Mustang included which was amazing to watch. The engine is a V12
Falconer - consisting basically of two V6's literally welded together:


"Hi Mark,

Thanks for your e-mail - apologies for the delay in responding, we have just
got back from the Omaka Air Show and getting everything back to normal takes a
couple of days. We towed the Spitfire and Mustang with us to the show - and
huge interest in both aircraft at the show.

The aircraft you saw is a 70% Thunder Mustang (the company that made them is
no longer operating), it has 600 hp engine and is a dual seat composite
construction, and it has hot and fast and high speed flying characteristics -
as you already observed! (And has come at a price to match the speed!!)

We are the New Zealand agents for both the Titan T-51 Mustang and the
Supermarine Spitfire Mk 26.

The Titan T-51 is a 75% replica Mustang powered by either a 912S Rotax (100hp)
or a V6 2.6 litre (150hp) option, with a 150 mph cruise speed, VNE of 197 mph.
The 912S keeps the aircraft in the microlight category, the V6 puts it into
'experimental' category. Titan have designed this aircraft for the sport
recreational market, its flying characteristics enable it to be flown safely
by both low-houred and highly experienced pilots. (Eg., 39mph stall speed,
two place, dual control, etc.) The airframe kit only is US$37,500, engine,
prop and instruments not included). The V 6 option puts criuse speed around
165 MPH with tons of climb out.

The Spitfire is a more serious aeroplane - 240 hp engine, pilot + passenger
seat, V6 3.5 litre GM engine. Cruise speed of 150 - 160 knots and VNE at
190 knots. Great flying characteristics -
Airframe kit only AUS$98,500, excludes engine, prop and instruments).

We have technical information and CDs on both of these aircraft. For your
information we have over one dozen excited clients waiting for these aircraft
at present. We offer a full back up service and full build option at our
private airfield facility at Loburn.

Kind regards,

Ivan and Sandy Campbell
Campbell Aero Classics N.Z. Ltd
Tel: +64 (0) 3 312-8008
Mob: +64 (0) 274 512-727
Fax: +64 (0) 3 312-8300

[EricW]

Thanks Mark,

Yes, I am familiar with all of these aircraft, I just had not caught up with
the fact that there was a Thunder Mustang operating in NZ.

I know that they are a spectacular aircraft, in fact I think it is only in
their service ceiling, 25000 ft, (because they have no blower) that they do
not outperform the original aircraft, (41,000ft). Interestingly, their top
speeds are identical, 437 MPH

The Falconer V12 is an amazing engine. It was originally developed by Ryan
Falconer for Power Boat racing and at 601 cubic inches, unblown, it produces
640 hp, better than an HP per cubic inch. The supercharged version (not suited
to aircraft) pokes out about 1100. The ignition and ECU are from Motec in
Australia and it has an interesting telemetry download, useful for pylon
racing, which was the original Thunder Mustang concept.

I am not sure of your description of "two V6's welded together" All the photos
I have seen of the engine look like a single block casting with about a 60
degree V It looks very much like a Packard Merlin after it shrank in the wash!
Even the exhaust ports are almost exactly to scale.

I understand that the Thunder Mustang is quite easy to fly, once you get used
to the speed at which things happen, and get your head around some of the
systems, but, being shorter than a P51 and carrying two, I would guess that it
has the P51's "Aft Centre of Gravity" stability problems in spades,
particularly if the passenger was generously proportioned. It would not be a
Private Pilot's "knockabout".

I would be interested in the stall/spin characteristics too. The original P51
manual tells you to bail out if you stall or are still in a spin at 5000 ft,
but I think the T Mustang uses a slightly kinder airfoil section.

I can see that I need to find a reason to be at Ardmore sometime soon,
although something small and very fast went over here last weekend, so that
may be what it was

Eric

[EricW]

Thanks Mark,

Yes, I am familiar with all of these aircraft, I just had not caught up with
the fact that there was a Thunder Mustang operating in NZ.

I know that they are a spectacular aircraft, in fact I think it is only in
their service ceiling, 25000 ft, (because they have no blower) that they do
not outperform the original aircraft, (41,000ft). Interestingly, their top
speeds are identical, 437 MPH

The Falconer V12 is an amazing engine. It was originally developed by Ryan
Falconer for Power Boat racing and at 601 cubic inches, unblown, it produces
640 hp, better than an HP per cubic inch. The supercharged version (not suited
to aircraft) pokes out about 1100. The ignition and ECU are from Motec in
Australia and it has an interesting telemetry download, useful for pylon
racing, which was the original Thunder Mustang concept.

I am not sure of your description of "two V6's welded together" All the photos
I have seen of the engine look like a single block casting with about a 60
degree V It looks very much like a Packard Merlin after it shrank in the wash!
Even the exhaust ports are almost exactly to scale.

I understand that the Thunder Mustang is quite easy to fly, once you get used
to the speed at which things happen, and get your head around some of the
systems, but, being shorter than a P51 and carrying two, I would guess that it
has the P51's "Aft Centre of Gravity" stability problems in spades,
particularly if the passenger was generously proportioned. It would not be a
Private Pilot's "knockabout".

I would be interested in the stall/spin characteristics too. The original P51
manual tells you to bail out if you stall or are still in a spin at 5000 ft,
but I think the T Mustang uses a slightly kinder airfoil section.

I can see that I need to find a reason to be at Ardmore sometime soon,
although something small and very fast went over here last weekend, so that
may be what it was

Eric