| DiamondBack is a TF-51 Mustang built in 1945 as a P-51D. After serving in the United States military from 1945 to 1958, the aircraft was sold to private owners in 1958. She raced from 1964 until 1993 under several names including the Reno racer "Stiletto" and won Unlimited Gold in 1984. DiamondBack was restored to a "stock" TF-51 Mustang in 1997.
Today, DiamondBack is owned by Mark Peterson and based in Boise, Idaho. She is available for static and flying displays at airshows and fly-ins.
History
DiamondBack is a dual cockpit / dual control TF-51 Mustang built in 1945 as a P-51D-30NT. After serving in the United States military from 1945 to 1958, the aircraft was sold as surplus in 1958 in Sacramento, California. Private owners flew the aircraft for pleasure and raced it in transcontinental and closed course races from 1964 until it was crashed and destroyed in 1979.
In 1984 an engineering team of race enthusiasts and engine builders rebuilt and modified the aircraft into the Reno racer named "Stiletto" and it raced at Reno until 1993. Skip Holm piloted Stiletto to 1st place in the Unlimited Gold race in 1984 at 437.6 mph.
In 1993 a joint restoration was undertaken to return the racer to a "stock" TF-51 Mustang. Upon completion the aircraft was sold to David Jeansonne of Louisiana and named “Rajun Cajun". In 1998 the Mustang was sold to Bob Jepson and the Lady Alice Corporation. The team at Stallion 51 Maintenance in Kissimmee, Florida put the finishing touches on the aircraft before having it painted in authentic colors of the 356th Fighter Group, 360th Fighter Squadron and named it DiamondBack.
P-51 Specifications - Diamondback
Wing Span: 37 feet
Wing Area: 233 sq ft
Length: 32 feet, 3 inches
Height: 13 feet, 8 inches
Weight-Empty: 7041 lbs
Weight-Maximum: 12,100 lbs
Typical Weight: 8603 lbs
Structural Limits
Positive: +8.0 G
Negative: -4.0 G
(10 sec neg G limit)
Engine: Packard Merlin V-1650-7
Roush pistons
Merlin fingers
Cermachrome liners
-9 supercharger clutch, gears
Dual spin on Champion oil filters
Takeoff power:
1490 hp at 61" MP
1300 hp at 55" MP
War emergency: 1720 hp
Wing loading (lb/sf)
Typical: 36.9
Maximum: 51.9
Power loading-Typical Weight (lb/hp)
Takeoff: 5.77
Performance
Maximum Speed: 437 mph
Ceiling: 41,900 ft.
Climb to 20,000 ft.: 7.3 minutes
Range: 650 nm w 30 minute reserve |
