Dates

Event

Constructed as a P-51D-25-NT by North American at Dallas, Texas, USA.

Circa 1944

Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Army Air Force with s/n 44-84634.

June 1948

Redesignated as F-51D.

Taken on Strength/Charge with the Fuerza Aerea de Nicaragua with s/n GN96 {2}.

2 September 1963

To Will W. Martin/MACO Sales Financial Corp, Chicago, IL with new c/r N6165U.

After 1963

Photographer: Malcolm Gougan Collection

After 1963

Photographer: Malcolm Gougan Collection

14 December 1964

Certificate of airworthiness for N6165U (F-51D, 44-85634) issued.

From 1966 to 1969

To Thomas J. Kuchinsky, Menomonee Falls, WI keeping c/r N6165U.

August 1966

Photographer: Malcolm Gougan Collection
Notes: Photographed at Brideport, CN.

Circa 15 September 1966

Photographer: Collect-Air Photos
Notes: Photographed Milwaukee, WI, before the Harolds Club transcontinental race to Stead Field, near Reno, NV, as part of the National Championship Air Races.

4 April 1967

Involved in an incident.
Summarized NTSB narrative from report number CHI67D0667: There were no fatalities. Incident occurred at 15:00 hours. The damage was substantial. Incident occurred at the Hartford Airport, Hartford, WI. Ground looped or water swerved during the landing rollout. The aircraft nosed over during the landing rollout. The factors included; soft shoulders. The sky conditions were clear. The visibility was 5 or over (unlimited). The wind velocity was 40 knots. The weather conditions were VFR...
For a complete description of the event read the NTSB Report.

Circa 1967

Photographer: Malcolm Gougan Collection

20 September 1967

Photographer: Unknown
Notes: Photographed at the Reno Air Races. Competed in the Harolds Club cross country race.

Circa 20 September 1967

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

From 21 September 1967 to 21 September 1967

Raced as #18.
Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Harolds Club Transcontinental race. The primary pilot was Tom Kuchinsky. Raced in the One Mile Course race. Finished in 4th place with an average speed of 275.35 mph.

Circa 1968

Photographer: Collect-Air Photos

Circa 1968

Photographer: Collect-Air Photos

Circa 1968

Photographer: Collect-Air Photos

1968

Photographer: Malcolm Gougan Collection
Notes: Photogrqaphed at Springfield, IL.

From 15 September 1968 to 15 September 1968

Raced as #18, named GENERAL SPLIT CORP..
The race was from Milwaukee, WI, to Reno. Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Harolds Club Transcontinental race. The primary pilot was Tom Kuchinsky. Raced in the One Mile Course race. Finished in 5th place with an average speed of 245.79 mph.

From 15 September 1968 to 22 September 1968

Raced as #18, named Gen Split Special.
This was a stock P-51D with minor airframe cIeanup and a round-tip HamiIton Standard cuffed propeIIer. Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Unlimited class. The primary pilot was Tom Kuchinsky. Qualified in 10th place with an average speed of 262.21 mph. Raced in Heat 1. Finished in 5th place with an average speed of 275.51 mph. Raced in the Reserve race. Finished in 6th place with an average speed of 270.39 mph.

20 September 1968

Photographer: Ron Olsen

20 September 1968

Photographer: Ron Olsen

1970

To Aviation Business Services Inc keeping c/r N6165U.

1972

To Air Sales Inc, Fort Lauderdale, FL keeping c/r N6165U.

1978

To Max I. Ramsay, Johnson, KS keeping c/r N6165U.

May 1978

Photographer: Malcolm Gougan Collection
Notes: Photographed at Fort Collins, CO.

1979

To Associated Enterprises Inc, Painesville, OH with new c/r N51JV.

1979

Markings Applied: TV-J, 485634

From 1983 to 1989

To Firebird Enterprises, OH keeping c/r N51JV.

1990

To Ohio Associated Enterprises, Painesville, OH keeping c/r N51JV.

From 1991 to 1992

To Edward H. Shipley, Malvern, PA keeping c/r N51JV.

From 1992 to 1995

To Edward H. Shipley, Malvern, PA with new c/r N51ES.

From 1992 to 1993

Restored.
Restored at Chino, CA.

July 1993

First post-restoration Flight.

1993

Markings Applied: Big Beautiful Doll, WZ-I, 472218

From 24 February 1995 to 2002

To Laurie A. Shipley, Malvern, PA keeping c/r N51ES.

Circa 8 April 1999

Photographer: David Leininger
Notes: Photographed at the Gathering of Mustangs and Legends in Kissimmee, FL.

7 July 2003

To Mike Henningsen, Atlantic, IA keeping c/r N51ES.

7 July 2003

To Henningsen Air Llc, Atlantic, IA with new c/r N351BD.

6 May 2004

Photographer: Glenn Chatfield
Notes: At Cedar Rapids, IA

6 May 2004

Photographer: Glenn Chatfield
Notes: At Cedar Rapids, IA

1 January 2014

Certificate of airworthiness for NL351BD (F-51D, 44-85634) issued.

13 March 2014

To unknown owner with c/r N351BD.
Registration pending to a new owner in Chandler, AZ.

12 May 2014

To Jeffrey P. Pino, Chandler, AZ keeping c/r N351BD.

12 May 2014

To Jeffrey P. Pino, Chandler, AZ with new c/r N551JP.

By 23 October 2014

To unknown owner with c/r N351BD.

23 October 2014

Involved in an incident.
The incident occurred at the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (IWA) Mesa, AZ, United States while maneuvering. The damage was minor. The pilot reported that, after taking off and retracting the landing gear, he noticed that the landing gear lights did not indicate a normal landing gear retraction...
For a complete description of the event read the NTSB Report.

By 5 February 2016

To unknown owner with c/r N551JP.

5 February 2016

Crashed.
There were two fatalities. The accident occurred at Maricopa, AZ, United States while on decent. The damage was substantial. On February 5, 2016, about 1157 Mountain Standard Time, a North American F-51D, N551JP, sustained substantial damage when it impacted terrain about 6 miles southwest of Maricopa, Arizona. The commercial pilot and a passenger, who was an airline transport pilot, were fatally injured. Visual (VMC) meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed...
For a complete description of the event read the NTSB Report.

26 March 2018

Civil registration, N551JP, cancelled.

18 March 2019

To Bagdasarian Walter DBA, La Mesa, CA with new c/r N551JP.