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P51-A "Magnificent
Obsession II"
pictures: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
P-51A Replica History
The P-51A, "Magnificent Obsession II", is owned by Kent Carlomagno and based at Petaluma
airport in Petaluma, CA. This1972 Marcelle Jurca French design hybrid is a scaled down ¾ scale
model of the early P-51A with a 3 blade design propeller aircraft with over 66 hours on it and
lots of TLC.
Wings/Fuselage/Tail:
- Spruce
spar with mahogany covering on the wing and horizontal stabilizer/elevator. Ailerons
and flaps painted with Dupont Imron (+11 -9g wing load test)
- Steel tubular inner frame
- Aluminum skin, tail and ribs
- Aluminum covering of fuselage and empennage
- Fiberglass wing, & elevator fairing
- Beechcraft laminar flow NACA wing/horizontal
surface airfoils
- Lockable, steerable tailwheel
- Has a wingspan of 27 feet and a length
of 22 ½ feet.
Engine:
- The engine was
built by Ryan Falconer in 1971, the builder of the V-12 Thunder Mustang engine in 1997
- Sounds like a tuned down version of the
Merlin V-12 !
- Has a V-8, liquid cooled Ford 460 C.I.
engine, 430-450 hp balanced and blue-printed
- Has an RV Cam designed for more torque
at lower rpm
- Bendix fuel injection
- MSD, electronic ignition, dual condenser/coils/computers,
hi-performance pistons and valves
- 4 into 6 exhaust with collector tube
- The engine sits backwards, mounts to custom
bell housing with Geschweinder 2.4:1 reduction unit. Weight is 114 lbs. Gear-chain-gear
setup has never had a failure reported – used
in many agricultural aircraft
- Lubrication from 12 qt. racing aluminum
wet sump
- Fuel system 25 – 32 lbs/pressure
- Electric Dukes pump (for starting, take
off, and emergency)
- Regular mechanical 40946 aircraft hi-pressure
pump with custom arm
- 3 tanks: 2 main (31 gals), 1 rear (11
gals). 40 gallons usable fuel.
Alternator:
- Autolite 70amp.
Landing gear:
- Javelin / Navion type with Prestolite
hydraulic pump for activation
- Tail wheel is a custom design with Scott
dual fork and wheel on a single shaft, with pin to lock wheel, and custom shimmy dampener.
Propeller:
- Weight 142
lbs
- Hartzel 3 blade design
- Metroliner blades with 101" diameter
hydromatic # T10282
- Externally activated hub # hcb3t-4, constant
speed hub, non-reversible.
Ignition:
- Batteries:
starting - crystal 1300 amp; back up - 300 amp wet cell
- MSD distributor is parallel with dual
coils.
Oil Cooling:
- Cessna p-210/ i0-540/ i0 720 oil cooler
with air directed below the propeller. Similar in looks and function to the intake for a
Merlin updraft carburetor inlet.
Liquid Cooling:
- 3.5 gallon total mix 50% antifreeze 50%
H20 ducted through a tunnel ram belly scoop
- Uses NASCAR heavy duty towing aluminum
radiator below and behind the pilot at a 30 angle to maximize the cooling area.
- Uses ground adjustable after-cooler door
like the full scale P-51A.
Brakes:
- Bendix dual action, dual puck King air
type
- Original P-51 adjustable brake pedals.
Miscellaneous:
-
2.6 hrs at cruise 22" – 3.6k rpm
- 14–16 gals/hr. fuel burn. Cruise
180 kts.
- Top speed 275 kts
- Rate of climb - 2500 feet/min
- Empty weight 2,850
- Gross weight 3,400
- Build time: 7,500+ man hours.
2002 changes:
Engine
lightened 75+ lbs. Completely
rebuilt and dyno-tuned by Thunder Mustang builder Ryan Falconeer including the following (weight
savings):
- New Edelbrock Victor series aluminum heads (62
lbs)
- Stewart aluminum water pump and pulley
spindle (10 lbs)
- Tilton lightweight hi-torque 3 hp starter
(10 - 12 lbs)
- 8 probe EGT. Installed to insure proper
engine performance, temperature, and mixture.
Airframe changes include:
- Redesigned intake scoop with decreased
surface area and less vertical profile resulting in improved aerodynamics.
- Increased power of retraction system
by installation of increased diameter, dual-action hydraulic cylinders.
Miscellaneous changes:
- Transponder with mode C encoder installed
to static system
- Three axis trim system.
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