Of the iconic warbirds that flew during World War II, few aircraft fires the imagination like that legendary P-51 Mustang. Sleek, high-performance lines and a pivotal role in securing Allied air superiority have cemented this plane’s place in history. Of the many magnificent fighters now residing in museums, only a few remain airworthy for aviation buffs and history lovers to witness in raw form and bask in their power and grace.
Betty Jane: A Rare Dual-Control Gem
Called “Betty Jane,” this particular plane calls the Collings Foundation in Stow, Massachusetts, home, and it’s a true oddity, being only one of five TP-51Cs built. Of course, this exceptional machine was constructed at North American’s Dallas factory, featuring not only the second seat but also instrumentation very advanced for the day, which would allow comprehensive training flights. Quite unlike any other Mustang, with its dual-control configuration, Betty Jane offers a unique insight into how Mustang pilots learned their trade during wartime.
Preserving the Legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen
This authentically painted, fully airworthy P-51C Mustang is assigned to the Commemorative Air Force squadron based in South St. Paul, Minnesota, and flies as a living memorial identical to those flown by the legendary Tuskegee Airmen. This beautiful P-51C Mustang, tail number N61429, flies as a living memorial to the elite squadron of African American fighter pilots who broke racial barriers with unwavering courage and unsurpassed excellence during World War II. This Mustang returned to the skies in 2001, after sitting for decades on display at Montana State College, ensuring the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen continues to soar.
This Pristine P-51D Belongs to the Planes of Fame Air Museum
Aviation enthusiasts can get a look at one of the finest surviving airworthy examples of the P-51D, by far the most produced variant of the Mustang, at the Planes of Fame Air Museum in Chino, California. This one, tail number N5441V, came off the assembly line in Dallas on July 26, 1945, and saw exemplary service with a variety of units, including the Strategic Air Command, until its retirement in 1956. It is remarkably well preserved and still airworthy, making it truly one of the jewels in this museum’s collection.
American Beauty: A Canadian Connection
There’s an extremely well-preserved P-51D in the Olympic Flight Museum in Washington, called “American Beauty.” Tail number N6313T, she is one of the last Mustangs to ever fly, having first served in 1951 with the Royal Canadian Air Force. This marvelous condition in which it is, therefore, speaks for the enduring appeal and virtues of craftsmanship accorded to this iconic fighter designed and put into serial production in an astonishing 117 days, which is, itself, a feat awe-inspiring even by today’s standards.
Kiss Me Kate: Tom Cruise’s Airborne Passion
While filming the box office movie “Top Gun: Maverick”, Tom Cruise took to the skies in a P-51K Mustang to show his passion for flying. In fact, he promised real flying for this film. That exact plane, nicknamed “Kiss Me Kate,” is airworthy and flown by none other than Cruise himself. He bought it in 2001 for an estimated $4 million. He often flies his prized Mustang in some exciting quests, an ace pilot himself, and in the right spirit of those daredevil pilots to have flown such iconic warbirds.
These five outstanding P-51 Mustangs have flown through the years, remaining as living tributes to the courage, sacrifice, and technological excellence that characterized the Allied campaign in World War II. With every resounding reverberation of their engines, these aircraft take us once more down a trip of nostalgia, refreshing our memories as to their place in history and the inspiration they instill in new generations of flyers.