I have had flying a P51 on my bucket list since I was six years old and introduced to war games by my older brothers. They would monopolize the P51 model and make me use the Focke Wulf in our recreations of the air battles over Germany.

The Collins Foundation is going to be at KCMA next week and offering 1/2 hour flight in their P51C for $2,200 and a full hour for $3,200... lot's of dough, but probably cheaper than flying to Stallion 51 or somewhere else. I can get a simple ride for much less, but probably not in a dual control with my hands on the stick.

What do you think, guys? Am I nuts or should I just forget about the money and strike another item from the things to do before I die?

From the hooting and hollering and shouting "THAT WAS WORTH IT" from the guy who went for AN HOUR at our field.... I would say yes.

Gee , those opportunity's happen all the time, Plane , Time, Cash, wife allows.. I'd check the weather...

DO IT !

Mine cost zero. Not to rub it in, but the way it happened was a 'friend of a friend'. Since you surely have a LONG TIME to execute your bucket list, suggest networking with friends of friends of friends. Eventually you can make it happen.

Having said that, the Collings Foundation is a first class outfit, and they need financial support to further their honorable mission. If you got 2-3 amus sitting around that you could burn without any hardship, a 51 ride beats that hell out of blowing it somewhere like a casino, which I've heard some people do

This is one high dollar lady that you can make a video with that wont get you in trouble....

One word of caution, though.

Holding a video high enough to see over the pilots head is very difficult during 4g maneuvers. I dropped mine twice. Give some thought to how to avoid it.

I think they will record one for you. I know they do at the place in Florida that does P51 rides.

Here a kink to the Collings Foundation website. I think their P51 has dual controls.

http://www.collingsfoundation.org/ma_p51mustang.htm

Kelly,

It would prob. be fun as hell but if you are going to spend the money anyway why not get a hour dual in a TF-51D.

http://www.stallion51.com/

Jay

As a point of reference the prices quoted for the Stallion 51 program given at Sun n Fun were $2350.00 for the half-hour orientation flight and $3150.00 for the one-hour package.

Unless you have "connections" to make a 51 ride happen, it will unlikely ever get any cheaper. Everyone has to decide when it is time to start trying to cross off items on their "bucket list".

DO IT! short commute, familiar airspace A P-51

Not worth it... Hold out for a P-51D

--paul

P-51 rides seem pretty cheap by the standards of many rare, "once in a lifetime" experiences. Virgin Galactic's prospective sub-orbital rocket ride is currently priced at $200K; will that be 60X the thrill of a Mustang flight?

http://www.virgingalactic.com/

Kelly

The Collins Foundation planes were at Scottsdale, AZ last year and their P-51 is awesome looking. One of the few with dual controls. I am still kicking myself for not going up. I say go for it you won't regret it and you will never have to second guess your decision.

Russ