TYPE: Tandem-seat turboprop sportplane/kitbuilt.

PROGRAMME: Full-size, turbine-powered representation of North American P-51 Mustang. Design began 1988; publicly announced end 1997; first flight 1998 and displayed at Oshkosh in July 1998 as Grand 51; later renamed P-51G.

CUSTOMERS: Prototype flying; two production aircraft under construction. Factory capacity for 12 per year.

COSTS: Development costs US$4.5 million; kit price US$150,000; completed airframes US$615,000 (2003).

DESIGN FEATURES: Wing span matches racing P-51s; option to extend to ‘normal’ 11.38 m (37 ft 4 in) available; aircraft kit comprises 12 major components. Quoted build time 1,500 to 2,000 hours.

STRUCTURE: Airframe and flight control surfaces of carbon fibre epoxy; 85 per cent is composites. One-piece ‘wet’ wing.

FLYING CONTROLS: Conventional and manual. No flaps. Electric three-axis trim.

LANDING GEAR: Tailwheel configuration; hydraulically operated mainwheels retract inward; tailwheel rearward. Bridgestone 24x7.7 mainwheel tyres; 12.5 in tailwheel type. Cleveland wheels and brakes.

POWER PLANT: One 1,081 kW (1,450 shp) Textron Lycoming T53-L-701A turboprop, driving a Hamilton Sundstrand three-blade, fully feathering and reversible propeller. Rolls-Royce Merlin can be fitted. Fuel capacity 1,703 litres (450 US gallons; 375 Imp gallons) in prototype; kitbuilts have 946 litres (250 US gallons; 208 Imp gallons) with optional 757 litre (200 US gallon; 167 Imp gallon) auxiliary tank.

ACCOMMODATION: Pilot and passenger in tandem under one-piece hinged canopy. Optional P-51D canopy style available. Dual controls. Impact Dynamics leather seating. Dummy belly scoop provides baggage compartment with starboard side access door.

AVIONICS: To customer's specification; IFR is standard.

DIMENSIONS, EXTERNAL:

• Wing span: 11.28 m (37 ft 0 in)
• Wing chord at tip: 1.52 m (5 ft 0 in)
• Wing aspect ratio: 5.9
• Length overall: 10.97 m (36 ft 0 in)
• Height overall: 3.28 m (10 ft 9 in)
• Propeller diameter: 3.05 m (10 ft 0 in)
• Baggage door width: 0.91 m (3 ft 0 in)

DIMENSIONS, INTERNAL:

• Cockpit max width: 0.86 m (2 ft 10 in)

AREAS:

• Wings, gross: 21.65 m² (233.0 sq ft)

WEIGHTS AND LOADINGS:

• Weight empty: 2,041 kg (4,500 lb)
• Max T-O weight: 3,628 kg (8,000 lb)
• Max wing loading: 167.6 kg/m² (34.33 lb/sq ft)
• Max power loading: 3.36 kg/kW (5.52 lb/shp)

PERFORMANCE:

• Max opertating speed: 391 kt (724 km/h; 450 mph)
• Normal cruising speed: 313 kt (579 km/h; 360 mph)
• Stalling speed: 84 kt (155 km/h; 96 mph)
• Max rate of climb at S/L: 1,280 m (4,200 ft)/min
• Service ceiling: 9,144 m (30,000 ft)
• T-O run: 381 m (1,250 ft)
• Landing run: 533 m (1,750 ft)
• Range:
• standard fuel: 1,086 n miles (2,011 km; 1,250 miles)
• auxiliary fuel: 1,955 n miles (3,621 km; 2,250 miles)
• g limits (prototype): ±8

The article appears in the following publication:
Jane's All the World's Aircraft 2004-2005. Jane's Information Group Ltd. 2004. ISBN: 0-7106-2614-2