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Dates |
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Event |
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Constructed as a P-51D-25-NA by North American at Inglewood, California, USA. |
Circa 1944 |
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Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Army Air Force with s/n 44-73518. |
26 March 1945 |
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Transferred to NY PE ATS (New York Port of Embarkation, Air Transport Service).
Delivered here for shipping oversears. |
18 July 1945 |
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Returned to the United States. |
21 September 1945 |
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Declared Excess. |
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Assigned to Newark, NJ for storage. |
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Assigned to Kelly AFB for storage. |
23 July 1947 |
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Transferred to 169 Fighter Squadron, Illinois ANG, Peoria. |
21 January 1952 |
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Transferred to To 133 Fighter Wing, Air Defense Command, Holman Field, Minneapolis, MN. |
10 March 1952 |
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Transferred to 109 Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Air Defense Command, Minneapolis-Saint. Paul Airport. |
25 June 1952 |
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Transferred to Tinker AFB, Air Materiel Command. |
2 December 1952 |
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Transferred to 109 Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Air Defense Command, Minneapolis-Saint. Paul Airport. |
18 November 1953 |
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Transferred to 182 Fighter Training Squadron, Air Defense Command/Air National Guard. |
18 November 1953 |
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Transferred to 18 Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Minneapolis-Saint. Paul Airport. |
23 November 1953 |
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Transferred to 182 Fighter Bomber Squadron, Texas ANG, Brooks ANG base, TX. |
December 1956 |
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Assigned to AMC, Kelly AFB for storage.
Most likely was a paperwork station while the aircraft was physically at McClellan AFB. |
June 1957 |
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Assigned to McClelland AFB, Sacramento, CA for storage. |
By 15 January 1958 |
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Assigned to San Bernardino Air Materiel Area for storage. |
15 January 1958 |
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Sold surplus from San Bernadino. |
From By 1963 to By 1972 |
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To Edward G. Fisher, Kansas City, KS with new c/r N5483V {1}. |
1963 |
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Photographer: Lon Moer |
From 1974 to By 1976 |
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To Western Aircraft Leasing/Gary R. Levitz, Scottsdale, AZ keeping c/r N5483V {1}. |
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Transported by ground.
Moved to Scottsdale, AZ. |
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Restored.
Rebuilt as a racer. Modified with clipped wings, a racing canopy, and a P-51H tall tail. |
1975 |
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Raced as #81.
Raced at Mojave. |
1975 |
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Photographer: Steve Guilford
Notes: Mojave 75. First race after being purchased from Eddie Fisher by Gary Levitz in the winter of 1974. Ralph Payne disassembled the airframe over the winter and re-shimmed the wings from the inside, replaced every washer on airframe with thinner ones, drilled lightening holes in many components, including the seat. Stock canopy. Stock wingtips. Given race #81 to honor the late Leroy Penhall. |
1975 |
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Photographer: Aero Research
Notes: Reno 75. Clipped wings. Low-profile canopy from the DAllasandris Allison-powered racer (never raced) installed. Special thin-blade propeller (one of two sets made) installed. |
From 9 September 1975 to 14 September 1975 |
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Raced as #81, named Precious Metal.
Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Unlimited class. The primary pilot was Gary Levitz. Qualified in 5th place with an average speed of 409.28 mph. Started the Trophy race, but was disqualified. |
Circa 9 September 1975 |
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Photographer: Aero Research |
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Raced as #81.
Raced at Mojave. |
From June 1976 to By 1989 |
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To Whittington Brothers Inc, Fort Lauderdale, FL keeping c/r N5483V {1}. |
From 7 September 1976 to 12 September 1976 |
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Raced as #09, named Precious Metal.
Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Unlimited class. The primary pilot was Don Whittington from Fort Lauderdale, FL. Qualified in 1st place with an average speed of 438.81 mph. Started the Trophy race, but did not finish. |
Circa 7 September 1976 |
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Photographer: Charlene Aro |
Circa 7 September 1976 |
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Photographer: Aero Research
Notes: Reno 76. Sold to Don and Bill Whittington. Slightly taller racing canopy and single-piece windscreen installed. Entered as Miss Florida 3 at Reno, though still said Precious Metal on cowling. Re-numbered #09. (The Whittington brothers had worked on Jimmy Leewards #9 Miss Florida the previous year, hence the name and number). |
Circa 7 September 1976 |
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Photographer: Al Chute |
1976 |
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Raced at Mojave. |
1976 |
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Photographer: Gerry Liang
Notes: Mojave 76. H-model tail installed on airframe. Jim Larsen-designed wing fillets installed. |
From 13 September 1977 to 18 September 1977 |
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Raced as #09, named Precious Metal.
Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Unlimited class. The primary pilot was Don Whittington from Fort Lauderdale, FL. Qualified in 2nd place with an average speed of 399.55 mph. Raced in Heat B. Finished in 2nd place with an average speed of 398.53 mph. Raced in the Trophy race. Finished in 2nd place with an average speed of 425.70 mph. |
Circa 13 September 1977 |
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Photographer: Charlene Aro |
Circa 13 September 1977 |
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Photographer: Malcolm Gougan Collection
Notes: Photographed at the Reno Air Races. |
Circa 13 September 1977 |
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Photographer: William T. Larkins
Notes: Photographed at the Reno Air Races. |
Circa 13 September 1977 |
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Photographer: Malcolm Gougan Collection
Notes: Photographed at the Reno Air Races. |
After 1977 |
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Photographer: Charlene Aro |
After 1977 |
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Photographer: Aero Research
Notes: Reno 77/Reno 78/Miami 79/Reno 80. Remained in same basic configuration but with minor differences in the paint scheme. The thin-blade race prop was destroyed at Reno 77, and replaced with Mosquito blades for remainder of career. (Aero Research photo) |
After 1977 |
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Photographer: Malcolm Gougan Collection |
From 12 September 1978 to 17 September 1978 |
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Raced as #09, named Precious Metal.
Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Unlimited class. The primary pilot was Don Whittington. Qualified in 11th place with an average speed of 364.67 mph. Raced in Heat 1. Finished in 2nd place with an average speed of 394.00 mph. Raced in the Trophy race. Finished in 2nd place with an average speed of 414.77 mph. |
25 February 1979 |
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Photographer: Larry Johnson
Notes: At Homestead General Airport in Florida |
29 May 1980 |
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Certificate of airworthiness for NX5483V {1} (P-51D, 4473518N) issued. |
From 10 September 1980 to 14 September 1980 |
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Raced as #09, named Precious Metal.
Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Unlimited class. The primary pilot was Don Whittington. Qualified in 1st place with an average speed of 421.61 mph. Raced in the Gold race. Finished in 5th place with an average speed of 397.73 mph. Raced in the Gold 1 race. Finished in 1st place with an average speed of 395.14 mph. Raced in the Gold Semi-Final race. Finished in 3rd place with an average speed of 404.70 mph. Suffered from fouled plugs and a partially separated oil line from about the third lap on, but Whittington was able to maintain the third place position and finish the race. |
Circa 10 September 1980 |
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Photographer: Gary Maisack
Notes: At Reno Air Races, Nevada |
Circa 10 September 1980 |
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Photographer: Gary Maisack
Notes: At Reno Air Races, Nevada |
From 15 September 1981 to 20 September 1981 |
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Raced as #09, named Precious Metal.
Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Unlimited class. The primary pilot was Don Whittington. Qualified in 8th place with an average speed of 388.13 mph. Raced in the Gold race. Finished in 3rd place with an average speed of 390.48 mph. Raced in the Gold 1 race. Finished in 2nd place with an average speed of 410.43 mph. Started the Gold Semi-Final race, but did not finish. |
Circa 15 September 1981 |
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Photographer: Charlene Aro
Notes: Photographed at the Reno Air Races at Stead Field near Reno, NV. |
After 1981 |
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Photographer: Aero Research
Notes: Reno 81/Reno 83. Very low-profile race canopy installed. After Reno 83 the aircraft was parked in the hangar in Fort Lauderdale for 5 years. (Aero Research photo) |
From 12 September 1983 to 18 September 1983 |
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Raced as #09, named Precious Metal.
Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Unlimited class. The primary pilot was Don Whittington. Qualified in 21st place with an average speed of 355.24 mph. Started the Gold race, but did not finish. Raced in the Gold 1 race. Finished in 7th place with an average speed of 315.76 mph. Raced in the Gold Semi-Final race. Finished in 2nd place with an average speed of 414.65 mph. Whittington was sneaking up behind Neil Anderson and gaining on him rapidly. Unfortunately, the engine sneezed or backfired and he had to pull back on the throttle somewhat but managed to glide across the finish line in second before climbing for altitude and declaring a Mayday. |
Circa 12 September 1983 |
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Photographer: Charlene Aro
Notes: Photographed at the National Championship Air Races at Stead Field near Reno, NV. |
From 14 September 1987 to 20 September 1987 |
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Raced as #09, named Precious Metal.
Attended the National Championship Air Races, but did not compete in the Unlimited class and it is uncertain if there was an intent to compete. The primary pilot was Don Whittington. |
1988 |
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Loaned the P-51H tail to the Griffon powered P-51XR project which was to become the second Precious Metal.
For more information about this other airframe see this Airframe Dossier  |
Circa 1988 |
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Photographer: Bradley Haskin
Notes: In 1988 the entire tail section with the H-model tail was removed from the airframe... |
1989 |
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Photographer: Bradley Haskin
Notes: In 1989 the H-tail section was put back on the original airframe, as N5483V became whole again. Markings were stripped from the aircraft and it was flown to Salt Lake City and stored in Gary Levitzs hangar unmarked. |
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Raced as #38.
Raced at Boulder City, CO. |
1989 |
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Photographer: Lowell Thompson
Notes: Gary Levitz took the unnamed aircraft to the 1989 races at Boulder City/Las Vegas in temporary markings as Race #38. (Lowell Thompson photograph) In late 1989, Whittington got the aircraft and flew it back to Fort Lauderdale. It was in THIS condition that it was heavily damaged when it was ditched in the Gulf of Mexico in January 1990. Airframe was recovered and put into storage. Currently awaiting restoration. |
From 25 February 1989 to 26 February 1989 |
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Raced as #38, named Precious Metal.
Competed in the Boulder City Nevada event. The primary pilot was Gary Levitz. Raced in Heat 1. Expected to compete but did not race. |
24 January 1990 |
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Crashed.
There was one serious injury. The accident occurred at Galveston, TX, United States while on decent. The airframe was destroyed. Following a cross country flight, the pilot arrived in the area of his destination to find the weather below minimums. He diverted to another airport in the area and attempted two approaches, but was unable to break out due to the weather. The weather at the time was 100 foot ceiling with. 1 mile visibility in haze and fog...
For a complete description of the event read the NTSB Report. |
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Recovered.
Retrieved from the sea near Galveston, TX. |
From 11 August 1990 to 12 August 1990 |
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Raced as #09, named Precious Metal.
Was to have competed at the Colorado National Air Races, but did not arrive. The primary pilot was to be Don Whittington. |
From 21 June 1994 to By 2001 |
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To World Jet Inc/Don Whittington, Fort Lauderdale, FL keeping c/r N5483V {1}. |
18 April 2013 |
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Civil registration, N5483V {1}, cancelled. |
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Your Assistance is Needed: What is the fate of this airframe? Where is is now? Please share any information you may have with Aerial Visuals by editing this dossier?
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20 November 2018 |
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To Precious Metal Engineering, Hollywood, FL with new c/r N5483V {1}. |
