Photograph:
Kronk P-51 Mustang VH-FWZ (c/n P-51D-TTK) taxiing at Narromine, NSW on 15 September 2012 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
Australia
Description:
Single-seat high-performance sporting monoplane
Power Plant:
One 395 kw (530 hp) 350-cubic inch General Motors LS-1 eight-cylinder VEE liquid-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Cruising speed: 338 km/h (210 mph)
- Take-off run on grass: 152 m (500 ft)
- Rate of climb 914 m (3,000 ft/min) at: 185 km/h (115 mph)
- Stalling speed, clean at 1,090 kg (2,400 lb): 122 km/h (76 mph)
- Fuel capacity: 410 litres (50.6 Imp gals)
- Empty weight: 870 kg (1,900 lb)
History:
This aircraft was an 80 percent scale custom-built replica of a North American P-51K Mustang and was designed and built by Mr Terrence Kronk in Queensland, although the wingspan was built to 72 per cent scale.
It was described as a P-51 Scale Mustang and was registered to the builder on 1 December 2009 at Toowoomba, QLD becoming VH-FWZ (c/n P-51D-TTK). Of all metal construction, it was fitted with a General Motors eight-cylinder VEE liquid-cooled engine of alloy construction, fitted with a supercharger, and driving a four-blade propeller. This engine produced 395 kw (530 hp) at 5,000 rpm with 6 lbs boost, and 373 kw (500 hp) at 4,600 rpm with 46 inches of manifold pressure. The aircraft had an auto pilot and an electrically retractable undercarriage including the tailwheel and doors.
Mr Kronk was well known for building one-off high performance aircraft. He was the first builder to fit a V-8 car engine in a Supermarine Aircraft Works Spitfire 26. He built a scratch-built Focke Wulf FW 190 (VH-FWB), the subject Mustang, and at the time of the fatal crash of his Mustang was working on a scale radial engined Grumman Bearcat and a scale de Havilland Mosquito replica, the latter to be powered by two Ranger V-12 engines. Tragically Mr Kronk died when his Mustang crashed after suffering engine problems in November 2012.
The Mustang aircraft had a fuel capacity of 230 litres (56 Imp gals) in the leading edge wing tanks, and 180 litres (39.6 Imp gals) in the auxiliary wing tanks, giving a total of 410 litres (90 Imp gals) of mogas. Cruising speed was 338 km /h (210 mph) at 3,500 engine rpm using 91 litres (57 Imp gals) per hour.