THE THUNDER MUSTANG, a three-quarter-scale replica of the North American P-51, has been flown for the first time at Nampa, Idaho. The all-composite $175,000 kitplane weighs slightly over 900kg, and is powered by a 475kW (640hp) Falconer Vee-12 piston engine. It has a projected maximum cruise-speed of 315kt (580km/h) and never-exceed speed of 440kt. For racing, the engine can produce almost 900kW, or more than 1,100kW for short periods. Thunder Mustang designer Dan Denney plans to enter the aircraft in the 1997 Reno Air Races.
Source: Flight International