OT: Bad News - Lone Star Flight Museum's TF-51

[Ken Adkins]

Lone Star Flight Museum's TF-51 "Galveston Gal" went down into Galveston Bay. Blue skies......

http://www.galvestondailynews.com/free/article_81fa2d94-3c0f-11e3-b8a4-0019bb30f31a.html

[Ken Adkins]

Re: OT: Bad News - Lone Star Flight Museum's TF-51

Checked on the history of Galveston Gal. Was owned by Don Whittington at one point in the 1980s, not sure if it raced at Reno. Had restoration done at Ezell Aviation in 2009-2011.

http://www.mustangsmustangs.com/p-51/?survivors/serial/44-73458

[Samuel]

Re: OT: Bad News - Lone Star Flight Museum's TF-51

And unfortunately they must mention the Galloping Ghost accident;
http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/23/us/vin...html?hpt=hp_t2

[Randy Haskin]

Re: OT: Bad News - Lone Star Flight Museum's TF-51

Checked on the history of Galveston Gal. Was owned by Don Whittington at one point in the 1980s, not sure if it raced at Reno. Had restoration done at Ezell Aviation in 2009-2011.

http://www.mustangsmustangs.com/p-51...erial/44-73458

The airplane is actually a composite of four different wrecks that have been rebuilt over the years.

It combined the wrecks of three different El Salvador Cavaliers (FAS 400, FAS 402, and FAS 404), which became FAS 404 (#2) in the FAS...then it, too, wrecked. The wreck was sold to Jack Flaherty in the early 70s when he bought the rest of the El Salvador Mustangs. Then, once back in the US, it was built up by Gordon Plaskett and others over the years. Supposedly parts from 44-74012 were used by Plaskett in the rebuild, but I don't have a detailed lowdown on that rebuild.

When the Whittingtons owned it, it featured that groovy red vinyl/pleather interior and the 1-piece windshield.

[Sparrow]

Re: OT: Bad News - Lone Star Flight Museum's TF-51

According to my friend who was there and flew one of the other 6 home, the TF was a complete
airplane sesetting on the ramp with the others. It was then taken apart, crated and shipped to Jack Flaherty.