2000 F.E.W. TF-51D MUSTANG 2/3 SCALE REPLICA, 350 V-8, 85 HRS TT, LIGHTLY DAMAGEClick here to purchase or contact the seller of this item on eBay |
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| Current Price: 20,121.00 USD |
2000 F.E.W. TF-51D MUSTANG 2/3 SCALE REPLICA, 350 V-8, 85 HRS TT, LIGHTLY DAMAGED, AMAZING!
THERE ARE FEW PISTON POWERED AIRCRAFT THAT HAVE THE MYSTIQUE OF THE P-51 MUSTANG!
EVEN
THOSE WHO DON’T KNOW OF IT’S SHORT 117 DAYS FROM CONTRACT TO FLYING
PLANE, OR THE STORY OF HOW THE RAF DECIDED TO TRY INSTALLING THE
SUPERCHARGED MERLIN ENGINE TO A P-51A, ARE AWARE OF IT’S CLASSIC LOOK
(THE DEFINITION OF LOOKING FAST STANDING STILL).
IT’S
EXPLOITS IN WORLD WAR II GIVE IT AMAZING CRED, AND A MUSTANG AT ANY
AIRSHOW OR FLYIN MAKES THE EVENT AUTOMATICALLY A BIG DEAL!
THE
FINAL SCENE IN TOP GUN:MAVERICK JUST CEMENTS THE POWERFUL, GRACEFUL
IMAGE, AND MAKES IT ALMOST EVERY PILOT’S DREAM TO FLY ONE!
SADLY,
AS THE NUMBERS OF SURVIVING AIRPLANES DWINDLE, AND SUPPLY AND DEMAND
MEETS INFLATION, THE COST OF A REAL P-51 CONTINUES TO SOAR, SO WHAT WAS
1/2 MILLION WHEN I STARTED IN THE AIRPLANE BUSINESS IN THE 1980’S NOW
CANNOT BE BOUGHT FOR $1,000,000, AND MANY EXAMPLES BRING $2,000,000 OR
MORE!
I HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN MY 38 YEARS IN THE AIRPLANE BUSINESS, BUT NOT THAT KIND OF SUCCESSFUL!
BUT THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE, WHO LIKE ME, DON’T HAVE P-51 KIND OF MONEY, THAT NONE THE LESS HAVE P-51 DREAMS!
ENTER
THE P-51 REPLICA MARKET, WHERE AIRCRAFT ENTREPRENEURS, DESIGNERS AND
DREAMERS SCALE THE P-51 DOWN TO A MORE MANAGEABLE SIZE (SOME 1/2 SCALE,
MOST 3/4 SCALE), A MORE MANAGEABLE POWERPLANT (THE PACKARD MERLIN ENGINE
USED IN THE ORIGINALS BEING SIMILAR TO UMOBTAINIUM TODAY)!
ONE
OF THE PRETTIEST IS THE ALL COMPOSITE (FOR EXCELLENT STRENGTH TO WEIGHT
RATIO AND IT’S SMOOTH LINES) 2/3 SCALE KIT FROM A COMPANY CALLED
FIGHTER ESCORT WINGS (F.E.W. FOR SHORT) OUT OF ARDMORE OKLAHOMA.
STARTED
BY A MAN WITH A DREAM THAT OWNED A SUCCESSFUL AIRCRAFT COMPOSITES
COMPANY (THEY SUPPLIED COMPOSITE PARTS TO RUTAN, INCLUDING SOME FOR THE
AROUND-THE-WORLD-NONSTOP VOYAGER).
THE
ORIGINAL PROTOTYPE HAD AN ALUMINUM 265 CI OLDSMOBILE V-8 THAT PRODUCED
160 H.P., BUT THEY CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT, ADDING A 300 CI V-6, THEN A
300 H.P. CHEVY V-8!
AS
YOU CAN IMAGINE, THE PERFORMANCE INCREASED WITH EACH LARGER ENGINE, AND
ALTHOUGH NOT A REAL P-51 IN PERFORMANCE, THE COMPANIES ADVERTISING
SLOGAN OF “2/3RDS THE SIZE, 2/3RDS THE PERFORMANCE, 1/10TH THE PRICE” IN
THE EARLY 1990’S WAS PRETTY COMPELLING!!
THE COMPANY SOLD MANY KITS, AND THERE WERE MANY AIRPLANES FLYING, BUT AFTER THE DEATH OF THE OWNER, THE COMPANY LOST IT’S WAY.
INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY’S END IS DIFFICULT TO FIND, BUT SUFFICE TO SAY, THEY ARE GONE, BUT SOMETHING REMAINS!
FOR
SALE HERE IS A YEAR 2000 COMPLETED F.E.W. TF-51D, 2/3RDS SCALE WITH THE
CHEVROLET ZZ3, 350 CU.IN. ENGINE AND MT COMPOSITE BLADE 4 BLADE PROP!
THE
F.E.W. TF-51D WAS A FOLLOW-ON MODEL TO THE ORIGINAL P-51D KIT, DESIGNED
WITH A SLIGHTLY LONGER SLIDE BACK BUBBLE CANOPY AND A SLIGHTLY LONGER
FUSELAGE, ENOUGH TO FIND ROOM FOR A SECOND PILOT TO SIT BEHIND THE
FIRST!
LIKE TOM CRUISES SHOWED US IN TOP GUN MAVERICK, SHARING THE THRILL IS AWESOME!!
ALTHOUGH
THE TF-51D VERSION OF THE KIT RECEIVED A GROSS WEIGHT INCREASE TO
2,400 LBS, IN PRACTICE, IT WASN’T OFTEN FEASIBLE TO CARRY A PASSENGER
AND ENOUGH FUEL FOR MUCH FUN, SO THE OWNER/BUILDER OF THIS AIRPLANE
REMOVED THE SEAT BELTS AND CONTROLS FROM THE REAR SEAT, BUT THE SEAT PAN
AND FLOOR REMAIN.
THAT
IS ME, SITTING IN THE REAR SEAT OF THIS AIRPLANE, WITH MY BEST FIGHTER
PILOT INTENSE FACE, JUST TO PROVE EVEN AN OLDER, 6’ 190 LB PERSON CAN
GET BACK THERE AND SIT!! (THE PILOT’S HEADREST HINGES DOWN AND THE
CANOPY SLIDES WAY BACK, WHICH HELP!)
THIS AIRCRAFT HAS ONLY 85 HOURS SINCE BRAND NEW!
CONSTRUCTED
AND REGISTERED IN CANADA, SO THERE IS A JOURNEY LOG OF EACH FLIGHT FROM
THE VERY BEGINNING TO THE LAST FLIGHT IN 2024!
AND OHH IS THERE PAPERWORK!!!!!
THE BUILDER OF THIS AIRPLANE APPEARS TO BE A METICULOUS PERSON, AND THE DOCUMENTATION HAS BEEN SUPER FUN FOR ME TO PERUSE!
COPIES
OF MAGAZINE ARTICLES, WITH IMPORTANT PASSAGES UNDERLINED IN RED, FOR
THE F.E.W. P-51D AND OTHER KITS, COMPETITORS OF F.E.W. AT THE TIME, FOR
COMPARISON!
HE WAS GOING TO BUILD A MUSTANG, AND HE WANTED THE BEST AVAILABLE!
THE
TF-51D HE ASSEMBLED AND FLEW IS BEAUTIFUL!! PHOTOS OF THE AIRPLANE IN
GREEN AFTER ASSEMBLY AND BEFORE FINAL PAINT ARE INCLUDED (ALONG WITH
PICTURES DURING BUILD AND ASSEMBLY), AND THE FINAL SILVER PAINT, WITH
MILITARY MARKINGS AND STENCILS, LOOKS AMAZING!!
BUT EVEN WITH THE BEST AIRPLANE AND A GOOD, EXPERIENCED PILOT, THINGS CAN HAPPEN!
THERE IS NOW A FIST SIZED HOLE IN THE ALUMINUM VALVE COVER AND A SMALLER HOLE IN THE LEFT ALUMINUM HEAD!!
AS YOU MAY IMAGINE, THE FLIGHT DID NOT END THE WAY THE PILOT WAS HOPING!
THE
CAUSE OF THE HOLE IN THE HEAD IS IN QUESTION: THE REPORTS SAY A VALVE
STUCK, CAUSING THE HOT SPOT THAT BURNED THROUGH THE ALUMINUM HEAD AND
THEN THE VALVE COVER, BUT OTHER SOURCES BLAME AN EXHAUST LEAK, DIRECTED
AT THIS AREA FROM THE OUTSIDE AS THE CAUSE.
REGARDLESS,
THE RESULT WAS SMOKE IN THE COCKPIT AND POSSIBLY FLAME, SO THE PILOT
WISELY DECIDED TO END THE FLIGHT IMMEDIATELY, OFF AIRPORT!
A “SOFT” FIELD WITHOUT OBSTRUCTIONS AND A SKILLFUL LANDING, WITH THE GEAR RETRACTED, SAVED THE AIRPLANE!!!
NOT THAT THERE IS NO DAMAGE, OF COURSE!
THE
LOWER FIBERGLASS COWLING IS DAMAGED, AS SHOWN (BUT INTACT, SO
REPAIRABLE), AS IS THE BELLY SCOOP, WHICH IS FORMED ON A BASKET THAT
BOLTS TO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE FUSELAGE/WING.
BOTH OF THESE COMPONENTS ARE REPAIRABLE, SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO WORRU ABOUT FINDING REPLACEMENTS IN THE MARKETPLACE!
THE
4 BLADE MT CONSTANT SPEED PROP WAS DAMAGED ON ALL 4 BLADES, AND WERE
CUT DOWN FOR FURTHER EASE IN TRANSPORT, BUT THE HUB (AND SPINNER) ARE
UNDAMAGED!
THE OTHER
DAMAGE TO THE AIRPLANE INCLUDES: BOTH INNER MAIN GEAR DOORS AND ONE
OUTER DOOR ARE DAMAGED OR GONE COMPLETELY. THE OTHER OUTER DOOR IS
INTACT.
AS THE LANDING GEAR WAS LEFT RETRACTED, IT DID NOT GET DAMAGED IN ANY WAY!!
THE
BOTTOM OF THE WING HAS A SMALL GOUGE ABOUT 2’ LONG (NOT A PUNCTURE) AND
AN AREA OF SCRAPING WITH VERY SMALL PUNCTURES ON CENTER, OVER AN 18’X5”
AREA.
THE PITOT TUBE IS BENT SIDEWAYS BUT THE WING DOES NOT SHOW ANY DAMAGE IN THIS AREA.
THE
SCREW-ON SHEET METAL SURROUNDING THE RIGHT GEAR IS SLIGHTLY WAVY,
PRESUMABLY FROM THE DEPARTURE OF THE GEAR DOORS ON THAT SIDE.
THE
TOP COWLING, WHICH IS FIBERGLASS, HAS BLISTERS ON THE LEFT SIDE MIDWAY,
BUT IS NOT BURNED THROUGH, AND THE SHAPE IS STILL INTACT, SO THIS TOO
IS A STRAIGHTFORWARD REPAIR, NOT REPLACEMENT!!
THE
COWLING LEFT SIDE, AROUND THE EXHAUST, IS SHEET METAL, AND IT IS INTACT
AND NOT BURNED THROUGH OR DEFORMED EITHER! THIS GIVES SOME CREDENCE TO
THE BURNING FROM THE OUTSIDE IN THEORY, AS FIRE FROM INSIDE BURNING OUT
ENOUGH TO BURN THROUGH THE ALUMINUM HEAD WOULD HAVE SURELY BURNED RIGHT
THROUGH THE FIBERGLASS COWLING AND THIN ALUMINUM COWLING SIDE!
THE BALANCE OF THE AIRPLANE IS APPARENTLY UNDAMAGED!!!!!!!!!!!!!
NO LEADING EDGE IMPACTS TO THE WINGS OR TAIL, SO NO DEFORMATION TO THE FUSELAGE OR WING AT THE ATTACH POINTS!!!!!
THE FUSELAGE IS STRAIGHT AND THE ENGINE MOUNT, FIREWALL, AND THE WHOLE ENGINE INSTALLATION IS INTACT!
THERE
IS SOME SCORCHED WIRING, BUT NOT ALL, AND A LITTLE SOOT ON THE TOP OF
THE AIRFLOW PERFORMANCE FUEL INJECTOR HOUSING, BUT THE OVERALL ENGINE
AND INSTALLATION WAS NOT ON FIRE OR GET “COOKED”
AS
YOU CAN SEE IN THE SIDE VIEW PHOTO OF THE ENGINE, THERE IS NO DAMAGE
VISIBLE OUTSIDE TO THE HEAD BELOW THE EXHAUST HEADER, AND CERTAINLY NONE
VISIBLE TO THE CAST IRON BLOCK, SO IT IS POSSIBLE YOU COULD REPLACE THE
1 HEAD AND 1 VALVE COVER AND BE DONE WITH THE ENGINE ISSUE!
REGARDLESS, A ZZ3 (OR THE CURRENT ZZ4) IS A SMALL FRACTION OF THE VALUE OF THIS AIRPLANE IF YOU DID HAVE TO REPLACE IT!
SO,
IF THIS ISN’T ACTUALLY THE CHANCE OF A LIFETIME, TO REPAIR THE ISOLATED
DAMAGE TO THESE FEW AREAS, AND HAVE A SORTED OUT, HIGH PERFORMANCE
MUSTANG REPLICA YOU CAN FLY FOR YOURSELF, IT’S A 1 IN 1,000,000 CHANCE,
FOR SURE.
THEY TALK ABOUT THE RV GRIN. CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT YOU FEEL LIKE TAXIING IN AFTER JUST FLYING THIS BAD BOY??
AND AS FOR WHAT THE PEOPLE WATCHING YOU FEEL LIKE, I CAN’T EVEN GUESS!
SOLD WITH TECHNICAL LOGS FOR ENGINE, PROP AND AIRFRAME SINCE NEW, PLUS THE JOURNEY LOG.
AND 2 BOXES OF SUPPORTING PAPERWORK, INCLUDING THE ASSEMBLY MANUAL!!
AND THE CANADIAN BILL OF SALE!
THIS AIRPLANE DOESN’T NEED A KEY, I DONT EXPECT ANYONE TO TAKE IT FROM YOU!!
LOCATED AT OUR HANGERS AT THE AIRLAKE AIRPORT, (KLVN), JUST SOUTH OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.
WE WILL STORE THE AIRPLANE AT NO CHARGE FOR 30 DAYS FROM THE END OF THE AUCTION AT NO CHARGE, THEN $12 PER DAY THERE
THE FUSELAGE IS MOUNTED TO A CRADLE TO SUPPORT THE ENGINE AND THIS IS INCLUDED.
THE 1 PIECE WING IS 26’ LONG AND MANAGEABLE.
TRANSPORTATION WON’T BE YOUR PROBLEM, BUT THAT GRIN MIGHT MAKE YOUR WIFE WONDER!
BUY THIS AS A CHRISTMAS PRESENT FOR YOURSELF!!
WHAT A TREAT!!
GOOD BIDDING!
WENTWORTH AIRCRAFT DOES NOT OBTAIN REPAIR ESTIMATES, AS WE DO NOT REPAIR ANY OF OUR AIRPLANES. WE ONLY FACILITATE THE SALE OF REBUILDABLE AIRCRAFT TO THOSE DESIRING TO SAVE MONEY OR HAVE MORE AIRPLANE THAN OTHERWISE POSSIBLE FOR THE MONEY.
REPAIR OF ANY AIRCRAFT WILL DEPEND ON MANY FACTORS, SUCH AS AVAILABILITY OF USED PARTS, LABOR RATE OF THE REPAIR FACILITY, FAMILIARITY WITH THE AIRCRAFT, ETC. AND WE WOULD NEVER PRESUME TO ESTIMATE THIS NUMBER FOR A BUYER. BEWARE OF THOSE WHO OBVIOUSLY GIVE UNREALISTICALLY LOW "ESTIMATES" FOR THE REPAIR OF THE DAMAGED AIRCRAFT THEY SELL.
THIS ITEM IS BEING SOLD WITH A LOW RESERVE, THEREFORE WE FULLY EXPECT THIS LISTING WILL SELL TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER AT THE CLOSE OF THIS AUCTION, SO BID EARLY AND BID HIGH. THERE WILL BE NO CHANCE TO BUY THIS ITEM LATER!!
AS WE SET OUR BUY-IT-NOW SO LOW, MANY OF OUR AIRPLANES SELL BY THIS METHOD BEFORE THE END OF THE AUCTION. DONT WAIT TOO LONG HOPING TO SNIPE IT AT THE END, AND BE DISAPPOINTED !
WENTWORTH AIRCRAFT INC IS THE #1 VOLUME SELLER IN THE USED AIRCRAFT MARKET!
WE ARE THE REAL BRICK AND MORTAR WENTWORTH AIRCRAFT YOU HAVE SEEN ADVERTISED ON PAGE 6 OF TRADE-A-PLANE, AT OUR BOOTHS AT OSHKOSH, SUN-AND-FUN, AOPA, AND ELSEWHERE FOR OVER 20 YEARS !!!!
WE HAVE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF SATISFIED CUSTOMERS OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS, SO WHEN YOU BUY AN ITEM THROUGH EBAY FROM US, YOU CAN BE ASSURED THAT WE WILL LIST ALL ITEMS AS ACCURATELY AS POSSIBLE, AND THAT WE WILL ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS TRUTHFULLY.
PLEASE ASK ALL QUESTIONS THROUGH THE LISTING(ASK SELLER A QUESTION), BECAUSE THESE QUESTIONS GET ANSWERED IN A MORE TIMELY MANNER.
PLEASE DON'T ASSUME. IF YOU ARE NOT SURE ABOUT ANY FACET OF ONE OF OUR LISTINGS, PLEASE ASK !
SO THAT ALL BIDDERS HAVE THE SAME INFORMATION,WE PREFER NOT TO ANSWER DETAIL QUESTIONS BY PHONE. OUR PHONE SALES STAFF HAS NO DIRECT KNOWLEDGE OF THE ITEMS ON EBAY.
DUE TO THE AUCTION FORMAT, IT WOULD NOT BE FAIR FOR THE HIGH BIDDER NOT TO BUY THE ITEM LISTED, SO TREAT YOUR BID LIKE A HANDSHAKE!!
YOUR BID IS NOT A RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL, BUT RATHER A CONTRACT TO BUY OUR AIRPLANE AT YOUR BID PRICE
SO BE SURE YOU HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION, AND FUNDSIN PLACE.
A NON-REFUNDABLE DEPOSIT OF $2,000 IS DUE WITHIN 72 HOURS OF THE BID CLOSING. WE PREFER PAYPAL FOR THIS DEPOSIT, BUT IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH PAYPAL, LET US KNOW, AND WE WILL HELP YOU FIND AN ALTERNATIVE.
THE BALANCE OF THE PAYMENT IS DUE WITHIN 7 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF BID CLOSE. THESE FUNDS CAN BE BY WIRE TRANSFER, BANK OR CASHIERS CHECK, CASH, OR ANY COMBINATION. FULL PAYMENT IS DUE BY TIME STATED, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER YOU HAVE VIEWED THE AIRCRAFT. BID ACCORDINGLY.
THANK YOU FOR LOOKING AT THIS LISTING, AND BE SURE TO CLICK "SEE SELLERS OTHER AUCTIONS" OR SEARCH WENTWORTHAIRCRAFTINC IN SELLERS,FOR MORE ITEMS YOU NEED OR WANT!
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