Wow, what a beautiful shot. Mine is nowhere as artistic, but I think it will do.

I’ve never heard anything like this.

[youtube]https://youtu.be/SnqyflPNTvw[/youtube]

Wonder why the tail wheels weren't retracted.....

I'm guessing the "take a few dozen pictures really really quickly" setting on a good digital camera, plus some experimentation with shutter time and a few other settings.

That reminds me- Who remembers the Kodak Disc commercials? I mean the ones when the parents would burn a whole roll of film to get a good action shot of the kid diving into a swimming pool.

Probably a problem came up and easiest fix was to leave them down.
Earlier in the GA Flying around their homebase videos ad photos showed them up.
The earliest flight they flew without the main gear doors even installed.

They had to pull an engine, send it to Calif and then get it back and installed just prior to SNF so its good it even got there.
Hopefully they'll get it all straightened out. It's a lot of Mustang there to do so.

Jim, if you watch the video you'll see that the tailwheels never come up. If I had to guess, I'd bet that there an issue in the tailwheel system and they decided to bolt them down until they can get back to that project later. I've heard of that happening on other projects, including some Twin Beeches.

Probably a problem came up and easiest fix was to leave them down.
Earlier in the GA Flying around their homebase videos ad photos showed them up.
The earliest flight they flew without the main gear doors even installed.

They had to pull an engine, send it to Calif and then get it back and installed just prior to SNF so its good it even got there.
Hopefully they'll get it all straightened out. It's a lot of Mustang there to do so.

Dunno the F-82 parts and what is required. I imagine its not difficult.

On regular F-51s in the early 1950s the USAF was having a rash of Tail Wheel Collapsing incidents. A part prone to failing is a Magnesium Casting that acts to support the end of the spring that pushes the TW Downlock Pin into place. It also keeps the pin from rotating as it has a beveled surface the TW Strut contacts to push the pin back as the Steel Lug passes by then the DL pin will spring out and lock the gear down.
So when the casting breaks off the DL pin will not extend so only the Hydraulic Actuator pushing will hold the gear in the down position. This isn't enough to hold the tail up as the actuator is a small diameter and won't support the weight for long giving you the sinking feeling.

So the USAF issued a Tech Order to disconnect some things leaving the TWs locked down and you also removed the doors for the TW. So after sometime in 53 they did this. You'll see Korean War F-51s with the TW down and with them retracted depending on the date.

Hamilton Field incident and photo from the USAF report-


How do I know all this? It happened to us, In Canada. So was my 1st trip to the great white north, or Toronto to lock the TW Down.

Interesting, thanks Rich!

Nevada ANG High Rollers over Lake Tahoe in P51Ds with Tail Wheels locked down. Probably mid 1950s