North American

North American Aviation was a major US aircraft manufacturer, responsible for a number of historic aircraft, including the T-6 Texan trainer, the P-51 Mustang fighter, the B-25 Mitchell bomber, the F-86 Sabre jet fighter, and the X-15 rocket plane, as well as Apollo Command and Service Module, the second stage of the Saturn V rocket, the Space Shuttle orbiter and the B-1 Lancer. Through a series of mergers and sales, North American Aviation is now part of Boeing. - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_Aviation

North American P-51 Mustang

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The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was a long-range single-seat fighter aircraft that entered service with Allied air forces in the middle years of World War II.

North American P-51 MustangThe P-51 flew most of its wartime missions as a bomber escort in raids over Germany, helping ensure Allied air superiority from early 1944. It also saw limited service against the Japanese in the Pacific War. The Mustang began the Korean War as the United Nations' main fighter, but was relegated to a ground attack role when superseded by jet fighters early in the conflict. Nevertheless, it remained in service with some air forces until the early 1980s.

As well as being economical to produce, the Mustang was a fast, well-made, and highly P-51 Mustangdurable aircraft. The definitive version, the P-51D, was powered by the Packard V-1650, a two-stage two-speed supercharged version of the legendary Rolls-Royce Merlin engine, and was armed with six .50 in (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine guns.

After World War II and the Korean War, many Mustangs were converted for civilian use, especially air racing. The Mustang's reputation was such that, in the mid-1960s, Ford Motor Company's Designer John Najjar proposed the name for a new youth-oriented coupe automobile after the fighter. - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P-51

P-51 Mustang, Jumpin Jacques

Sound recording of the North American P-51D-20-NA "Jumpin Jacques" (serial 44-72035, UK register G-SIJJ) based at the Hanger 11 Collection, North Weald. Recorded in June 2009.

"Jumpin Jacques" is a P-51D-20-NA model, built at North American's Inglewood facility in California. Accepted by the USAAF on December 21 1944 as 44-72035 she was originally earmarked for service with the Eighth Air Force in England but this was quickly changed to Project Number 91037R, indicating service in the Mediterranean Theatre of Operations.

Powered by a Rolls-Royce Merlin V-1650-7.

P-51 Mustang, Marinelle, August 2009

P-51D-5NA "Marinell" (serial 44-13521) registered as G-MRLL, powered by a Packard built Merlin V1650-7.

P-51 Mustang, Janie, August 2009

P-51D-30NT (serial 45-11518) registered as G-MSTG, powered by a Packard built Merlin V1650-7.

This aircraft was previously owned by the New Zealand Airforce as NZ2427.


P-51 Marinell and Janie on take off

P-51D-30NT "Janie" and P-51D-5NA "Marinell" take off from the grass strip at Little Gransden. Recorded at the Little Gransden Children in Need Airshow, August 2009

Both aircraft are powered by a Packard built Merlin V1650-7.

P-51 Mustang "Ferocious Frankie" performing a slow roll

P-51D Mustang "Ferocious Frankie" performing a slow roll at Old Warden, August 2008.

P-51 Mustang "Ferocious Frankie" Fast

P-51D Mustang "Ferocious Frankie" performing a few fast and roaring (oil radiator or gun ports, your choice, I hear conflicting reasons) fly pasts at Old Warden, August 2008. This is a compilation of clips.

A pair of P.51 Mustang aircraft at Old Warden, 6th June 2010

A pair of P.51 Mustang aircraft displaying at Old Warden, 6th June 2010.

North American Harvard

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North American Havard TrainerThe North American T-6 Texan was a single-engine advanced trainer aircraft used to train fighter pilots of the United States Army Air Forces, United States Navy, Royal Air Force and other air forces of the British Commonwealth during World War II. Designed by North American Aviation, The T-6 is known by a variety of designations depending on the model and operating air force. The USAAC designated it as the "AT-6", the US Navy the "SNJ", and British Commonwealth air forces, the Harvard, the name it is best known by outside of the United States. It remains a popular warbird aircraft.  - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_Harvard

North American Harvard Pair, July 2009

The sound of two Harvards during a display at Old Warden, July 2009

North American F-86 Sabre

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The North American Aviation F-86 Sabre (sometimes called the Sabrejet) was a transonic jet fighter aircraft. The Sabre is best known for its Korean War role where it was pitted against the Soviet MiG-15 and obtained UN air superiority. Although developed in the late 1940s and outdated by the end of the 1950s, the Sabre proved adaptable and continued as a front line fighter in air forces until the last active front line examples were retired by the Bolivian Air Force in 1994.

Its success led to an extended production run of more than 7,800 aircraft between 1949 and 1956, in the United States, Japan and Italy. It was by far the most-produced Western jet fighter, with total production of all variants at 9,860 units.

Variants were built in Canada and Australia. The Canadair Sabre added another 1,815 airframes, and the significantly re-designed CAC Sabre (sometimes known as the Avon Sabre or CAC CA-27), had a production run of 112. - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-86_Sabre

F-86A Sabre, July 2009

F-86A Sabre G-SABR recorded July 2009.

Powered by a GENERAL ELECTRIC CO J-47-GE13

F-86A Sabre

F-86A Sabre recorded July 2009

North American T-28 Trojan

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The North American Aviation T-28 Trojan was a piston-engined military trainer aircraft used by the United States Air Force and United States Navy beginning in the 1950s. Besides its use as a trainer, the T-28 was successfully employed as a Counter-insurgency (COIN) aircraft primarily in Vietnam. - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T-28_Trojan

North American T-28 Trojan, August 2007

North American T-28 Trojan (G-TROY), recorded August 2007.

Powered by a Wright Aeronautical R-1820-86B.