Galloping Ghost Website

[wingman]

Re: Galloping Ghost Website

Since there seems to be some interest in canopies right now, I did a couple of quick and dirty scans of the Sumthin Else canopy. As you can see it did have a stop that allowed it to open a couple of inches while taxiing, but nothing on the airplane to hold it in place when fully open -- there was a fitted piece of wood with the ground crew for this purpose.

I always loved the look of this canopy -- I really think it's the prettiest race canopy ever made. Very sexy curves, for a piece of metal and plexiglass...

Neal

[Smee Again]

Re: Galloping Ghost Website

Did Crocker have any problems with that style canopy back in the day WINGMAN? Very interesting how a race canopy factors into the success of a winning machine.

The only drawback I heard regarding that canopy was that visibility was awful. Whether that had more to do with the quality of the blown plexiglass or the design itself, I'm not sure.

SA

[wingman]

Re: Galloping Ghost Website

Was it really that bad? I don't remember John or any of the other pilots who flew the airplane comment on it one way or the other.

Neal

[race9]

Re: Galloping Ghost Website

It's probably better than some other racing canopies. At least you can move your head a good ways in this one.

[t-dub]

Re: Galloping Ghost Website

GG is now the 4th Mustang to have the scoop removed, the 3rd was Stiletto, the second was N13Y (pics found in one of the Stiletto threads), and the first was a P51B that didn't use a boil off system but moved the radiators out to the wing tips.

There was some speculation as to weather or not Stiletto could beat a modern Dago Red, however that will likely never be found out. That said we now have a close "clone" (not really but along the same lines.) that might be able to answer that question in the very near future. Rumor has it that Stilettos wing tips are being used on GG, and my untrained eye says that the wings and elevators are about the same size as well.

The boil off system fits well in the gunbays that used to be home to 6 50 cals. For more info on the boil off system, check out the Stiletto threads.

I knew GG was using a boil off system, but it didn't occur to me that the scoop would be deleted. That is super cool. I think I have a new favorite Mustang. (Mostly because they have boldly gone where few others have ventured.)

Will

Just to clarify a couple of things.... N13Y was the N# on Lefty's P-38. Benguine was the P-51B that had the "tube" radiators on the wingtips. Anson Johnson's race 45 (don't think it had a name) had the Stilletto style radiator slots in the wings leading edge........

[wingman]

Re: Galloping Ghost Website

One point regarding the visibility issue of the Crocker canopy -- Dan Martin certainly flew Crocker's airplane, and has been working closely with Jimmy on the Ghost project. I would certainly assume that if there were visibility problems serious enough to compromise racing (or safety) that Dan would have warned Jimmy off use of that canopy...

[race9]

Re: Galloping Ghost Website

The website has been updated with new photos taken by Scott Germain.

[Race5]

Re: Galloping Ghost Website

WOW, what an insane amount of work to get done in a matter of a couple of weeks. If they pull this off we all need to buy the guys a beer or six after the races.

[wingman]

Re: Galloping Ghost Website

Hey Ryan -- How is that off topic? I thought the subject of this thread was the GG website!

LOL

Neal

[Wilnit]

Re: Galloping Ghost Website

Precious Metal has the same style or type of canopy, don't they???

[RAD2LTR]

Re: Galloping Ghost Website

Just to clarify a couple of things.... N13Y was the N# on Lefty's P-38. Benguine was the P-51B that had the "tube" radiators on the wingtips. Anson Johnson's race 45 (don't think it had a name) had the Stilletto style radiator slots in the wings leading edge........

Anson Johnson's race 45 was N13Y. If you follow this link, http://farm1.static.flickr.com/245/4...dd5283.jpg?v=0 the number is clear as day. I think Lefty's P38 came about after race 45 was undone. (For lack of a better way to put it since I don't know the planes real fate.)
Reguardless, I can't wait to hear (hopefully see) GG taking it to both the Bear, and Sept Fury. I don't know which of the three to put my money on however (if I were a betting person.)

Will

[Race5]

Re: Galloping Ghost Website

Anson Johnson's Race 45 is in a museum somewhere. Last time I saw pics it was dissasembled and in storage.

[t-dub]

Re: Galloping Ghost Website

Anson Johnson's race 45 was N13Y. If you follow this link, http://farm1.static.flickr.com/245/4...dd5283.jpg?v=0 the number is clear as day. I think Lefty's P38 came about after race 45 was undone. (For lack of a better way to put it since I don't know the planes real fate.)
Reguardless, I can't wait to hear (hopefully see) GG taking it to both the Bear, and Sept Fury. I don't know which of the three to put my money on however (if I were a betting person.)

Will

Thanks for the info Will. It is "plane" as day! Like you, I can't wait to see G.G., Bear, and Sept. Fury battling around the pylons! G.G. is gonna be awesome!

[invader696]

Re: Galloping Ghost Website

Anson Johnson's airplane is in storage at the New England Air Museum. As far as I know, she will be restored to race configuration. Not only did she have the scoop removed, and the radiators moved to the wings, the carb scoop was also removed from the bottom of the cowling. She had a Merlin installed from a Mosquito.

http://www.mustangsmustangs.com/p-51/survivors/pages/44-72400.shtml

[speeddemon]

Re: Galloping Ghost Website

Just to clarify a couple of things.... N13Y was the N# on Lefty's P-38.

It has been pointed out by certain people that my 'know it all' attitude gets tiresome, and I hope it doesn't come across this way, but Lefty's P-38 was N25Y, not N13Y. The last aircraft I recall using N13Y was actually Art Scholl's Super Chipmunk which is in the Smithsonian.