Papa 51 Thunder Mustang

The Thunder Mustang is a modern replica of the P-51 Mustang and has joined the ranks of the high performance P-51 kits alongside the all-aluminum Stewart S-51D and the full-scale, turbine powered Cameron and Sons P-51.

Design and development
The Thunder Mustang is currently in renewed production stages. Production ceased in the fall of 1999. The Thunder Builders Group LLC owned the assets required to manufacture the airplane in September 2010, when they sold the assets to Dean Holt of Mount Vernon, Washington. Dean is currently in the process of manufacturing all the necessary components for complete kit offerings which will be available in late fall 2011.

Operational history
There were a total of 37 complete or partial kits produced including the prototype. Of these 37, 27 were delivered as complete kits including the Falconer engine. Two have Walter turbines installed and presently flying.

Four Thunder Mustangs have competed at the Reno Air Races. John Parker has recorded lap speeds of more than 355 mph on the racecourse using the normally aspirated Falconer engine. George Giboney posted lap speeds of 397 mph with his supercharged version of the Falconer engine during the 2010 races with level flight top speed of more than 415 mph.