Dates

Event

Constructed as a P-51D-25-NA by North American at Inglewood, California, USA.

From Circa 1944 to May 1955

Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Army Air Force with s/n 44-72811.

1955

To Universal Studios, Hollywood CA.

Used in the film - BATTLE HYMN.

The center section of the fuselage was rescued from the movie backlot in the 1970s and mated to wings and other components from a mustang obtained from Israel by the Regina Brothers.

From Circa 1979 to Circa 1982

To Angelo Regina and Ascher Ward, Van Nuys, CA.

Restored.
Rebuilt at Van Nuys using the mainplane and sections of IDFAF 13 ex Holtz Technical School, Israel.

To Phil *Buck* Dear, Terry, MS.
Acquired partially rebuilt.

Circa 1982

Restoration completed.

From 1983 to Circa 1987

To Phil Dear, Terry MS with new c/r N268BD.

1983

Restoration completed.
Markings Applied: Big Beautiful Doll, WZ-I, 472218
Restored completed at Chino, CA.

1983

First flight.

From 1987 to Circa 1988

To Bob Byrne, Bloomington MI keeping c/r N268BD.
Markings added: Chequered Mustang

From 1988 to Circa 1989

To Bob Converse, Sister OR with new c/r N251RC.

Circa 10 April 1989

To Cascade Warbirds Co/Bob Converse, Sister, OR with new c/r N471R.
Operated with markings: Huntress III

From Unknown to Circa 2006

To Cascade Warbirds Co/Bob Converse, Later Sequim, WA keeping c/r N471R.

From 11 September 1989 to 17 September 1989

Raced as #71, named Huntress III.
Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Unlimited class. The primary pilot was Fred Sebby. Qualified in 18th place with an average speed of 383.546 mph. Raced in Heat 1B. Finished in 2nd place with an average speed of 362.736 mph. Raced in Heat 2C. Finished in 6th place with an average speed of 342.290 mph. Raced in Heat 3D. Finished in 6th place with an average speed of 351.972 mph. Raced in the Consolation race. Finished in 4th place with an average speed of 366.575 mph.

25 May 1990

Certificate of airworthiness for NX471R (P-51D, 44-26060) issued.
Note that the FAA quotes the ID as USAAF s/n 44-26060 but that belong to a P-38L-5-LO.

From 7 June 1990 to 10 June 1990

Raced as #71, named Huntress III.
Competed in the Texas Air Races event. The primary pilot was Robert Converse. Qualified in 13th place with an average speed of 322.960 mph. Raced in Bronze Heat. Finished in 4th place with an average speed of 313.262 mph. Raced in the Bronze 2 race. Finished in 3rd place with an average speed of 330.058 mph.

From 11 August 1990 to 12 August 1990

Raced as #71, named Huntress III.
Competed in the Colorado National Air Races event. The primary pilot was Robert Converse. Qualified in 8th place with an average speed of 331.718 mph. Raced in Silver Heat. Finished in 3rd place with an average speed of 346.398 mph. Raced in the Consolation race. Finished in 3rd place with an average speed of 354.355 mph.

From 17 September 1990 to 23 September 1990

Raced as #71, named Huntress III.
Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Unlimited class. The primary pilot was Robert Converse. Qualified in 12th place with an average speed of 390.921 mph. Raced in Heat 1A. Finished in 4th place with an average speed of 390.031 mph. Raced in Heat 2C. Finished in 4th place with an average speed of 373.418 mph. Raced in Heat 3D. Finished in 1st place with an average speed of 381.216 mph. Raced in Heat 3C. Finished in 1st place with an average speed of 452.358 mph. Raced in the Championship race. Finished in 9th place with an average speed of 378.693 mph.

April 1992

Photographer: Tom Tessier
Notes: At MCAS El Toro Air Show, CA

From 6 June 1992 to 7 June 1992

Raced as #71, named Huntress III.
Competed in the Denver Air Races event. The primary pilot was Robert Converse from Santa Paula, CA. Qualified in 10th place with an average speed of 319.756 mph. Raced in Heat 1A. Finished in 4th place with an average speed of 336.034 mph. Raced in the Consolation race. Finished in 3rd place with an average speed of 329.018 mph.

From 13 September 1993 to 19 September 1993

Raced as #71, named Huntress III.
Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Unlimited class. The primary pilot was Robert Converse. Qualified in 11th place with an average speed of 376.542 mph. Raced in Heat 1A. Finished in 7th place with an average speed of 338.533 mph. Raced in Heat 2C. Finished in 3rd place with an average speed of 361.747 mph. Raced in Heat 3D. Finished in 6th place with an average speed of 334.472 mph. Raced in the Consolation race. Finished in 7th place with an average speed of 349.444 mph.

From 22 October 1993 to 24 October 1993

Raced as #71, named Huntress III.
Competed in the Kansas City Air Races event. The primary pilot was Robert Converse. Qualified in 13th place with an average speed of 304.96 mph. Raced in Heat 1. Finished in 1st place with an average speed of 273.91 mph. Raced in Heat 3 Silver. Finished in 4th place with an average speed of 276.42 mph. Raced in the C Feature race. Finished in 3rd place with an average speed of 322.36 mph. During the Heat 1 race cut Pylon 3 on Laps 1 and 5. During the Heat 4 race, cut pylon #3 on lap #2. and was flagged down after four laps.

From 18 March 1994 to 20 March 1994

Raced as #71, named Huntress III.
Competed at the Phoenix 500 Air Races in the Unlimited class. The primary pilot was Robert Converse. Qualified in 19th place with an average speed of 301.375 mph. Raced in Heat 1C. Finished in 3rd place with an average speed of 302.610 mph. Raced in Heat 2D. Finished in 5th place with an average speed of 309.682 mph. Raced in the Medallion 2 race. Finished in 1st place with an average speed of 344.885 mph.

From 12 September 1994 to 18 September 1994

Raced as #71, named Huntress III.
Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Unlimited class. The primary pilot was Robert Converse from Sanata Paula, CA. Qualified in 17th place with an average speed of 335.725 mph. Started Heat 1B, but did not finish. Raced in Heat 2D. Finished in 5th place with an average speed of 305.048 mph. Started Heat 3, but did not finish. Raced in the Medallion 2 race. Finished in 3rd place with an average speed of 297.796 mph.

18 September 1994

Photographer: Anthony Taylor

From 23 March 1995 to 26 March 1995

Raced as #71, named Huntress III.
Was to have competed at the Phoenix 500 Air Races in the Unlimited S class, but did not arrive. The primary pilot was to be Robert Converse.

7 September 1995

Photographer: Anthony Taylor

From 11 September 1995 to 17 September 1995

Raced as #71, named Huntress III.
Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Unlimited class. The primary pilot was Robert Converse. Qualified in 16th place with an average speed of 347.513 mph. Raced in Heat 1B. Finished in 6th place with an average speed of 303.172 mph. Raced in Heat 2D. Finished in 4th place with an average speed of 288.035 mph. Raced in Heat 3. Finished in 8th place with an average speed of 282.975 mph. Raced in the Medallion 2 race. Finished in 5th place with an average speed of 307.870 mph.

From 9 September 1996 to 15 September 1996

Raced as #71, named Huntress III.
Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Unlimited class. The primary pilot was Robert Converse. Qualified in 19th place with an average speed of 333.748 mph. Raced in Heat 1C. Finished in 6th place with an average speed of 293.401 mph. Raced in Heat 2D. Finished in 3rd place with an average speed of 332.263 mph. Started the Consolation race, but did not finish.

Circa 9 September 1996

Photographer: Unknown
Notes: Photographed at the Reno Air Races.

From 8 September 1997 to 14 September 1997

Raced as #71, named SOUTHERN CROSS.
Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Unlimited class. The primary pilot was Robert Converse from Santa Paula, CA. Qualified in 22nd place with an average speed of 359.663 mph. Raced in Heat 1C. Finished in 6th place with an average speed of 305.207 mph. Raced in Heat 2D. Finished in 8th place with an average speed of 297.538 mph. Started Heat 3, but did not finish.

9 February 1998

To Cascade Warbirds Co, Forest Grove, OR keeping c/r N471R.

3 December 2005

Certificate of airworthiness for NL471R (P-51D, 44-26060) issued.

From 2006 to Circa 2015

To Stefan Brungarten, Germany.

21 August 2006

To Bob Hannah Aviation Llc, Caldwell, ID keeping c/r N471R.

20 November 2006

Civil registration, N471R, cancelled.
Exported to Germany.

Circa 2007

Shipped to Germany, assembled at Freiburg.

Markings Applied: Jay Hawk Jallopy, LH-C

By 30 July 2010

Markings Applied: 472811

30 July 2010

Photographer: Matthias Dorst
Notes: some checkflights with MeierMotors CEO Achim Meier, Summer 2010

30 July 2010

Photographer: Matthias Dorst
Notes: some checkflights with MeierMotors CEO Achim Meier, Summer 2010

22 August 2013

Photographer: Nigel Hitchman
Notes: In the Hangars of Meier Motors at Bremgarten, Germany

Based at Meiermotors GMBH, Bremgarten Airport, Eschbach, Baden-Wurttemberg.
View the Location Dossier