Papa 51 Thunder Mustang

infobox Aircraft
name = Thunder Mustang
type = Replica
manufacturer =The Thunder Builders Group LLC

---

caption = Thunder Mustang flying at 2007 Wings over Wairarapa airshow
number built =37
status = No longer in production.
unit cost =$285,000 USD

The Thunder Mustang is a modern replica of the P-51 Mustang and has joined the ranks of the high performance p-51 kits alongside the all-aluminum Stewart S-51D and the full-scale, turbine powered Cameron and Sons P-51.

The Thunder Mustang is not currently in production. Production ceased in the fall of 1999. The Thunder Builders Group LLC owns the assets required to manufacture the airplane. [ [http://www.thundermustang.com/ Thunder Mustang] ] These assets are currently for sale with a goal is to find a company to put the airplane back into production.

There were a total of 37 complete or partial kits produced including the prototype. Of these 37, 27 were delivered as complete kits including the Falconer engine. Two are presently having Walter turbines installed.

{| class="wikitable"
-! Specifications! Thunder Mustang !North American P-51D Mustang
-
Powerplant
Falconer V-12, 640 hp
Merlin V-1650-7, 1490 hp
-
Displacement
601 cu in
1649 cu in
-
Propeller
MT 94" 4-blade constant speed
Hamilton Standard 134" 4-blade
-
Length
24.2 ft
32.2 ft
-
Frontal Area
8.1 sq ft
13.4 sq ft
-
Wing Span
23.8 ft
37.0 ft
-
Wing Area
104 sq ft
237.75 sq ft
-
Wing Loading
28.84 lb/sq ft
49.2 lb/sq ft
-
Power Loading
4.69 lb/hp
7.78 lb/hp
-
Gross Weight
3200 lb
11600 lb
-
Empty Weight
2200 lb
7635 lb
-
Useful Load
1000 lb
3965 lb
-
Payload w/full Fuel
400 lb
2885 lb
-
Basic Fuel Capacity
102 gallons (in wings)
180 gallons (in wings)
-
Baggage Capacity
50 lb
N/A
-
Performance|
-
Rate of Climb @ gross
5200 ft/min
2800 ft/min
-
Maximum Level Speed @ Sea Level
326 kn (375 mph)
326 kn (375 mph) 380 kn (437 mph @ 25000 ft)
-
Cruise Speed @ 75% Power
300 kn (340 mph)
250 kn (300 mph)
-
Fuel Consumption
22-25 gal/h
50-75 gal/h
-
Range
1300 NM
700 NM
-
Service Ceiling
25,000 ft
46,000 ft
-
Limiting and Recommended Airspeeds|
-
Vx (best angle of climb)
87 kn
87 kn
-
Vy (best rate of climb)
156 kn
148 kn
-
Va (design maneuvering)
222 kn
226 kn
-
Vfe (max flaps extended)
165 kn
143 kn
-
Vle (max landing gear extended)
148 kn
148 kn
-
Vne (never exceed)
439 kn
439 kn
-
Vsl (stall, clean)
77 kn
92 kn
-
Vso (stall, in landing config.)
68 kn
88 kn
-
Best Glide
153 kn
152 kn
-