History / Previous Identities:

1958: N5480V, all orange w/ black reg on side of fuselage, fixed tail wheel
1963: N5480V (J. Jackson), (Tom Winship)
1969: (Frank Barrena)
1969: rep. Haiti FAH 15650 (unconfirmed)
Might have been cover to go to El Salvador. FAS rep. 44-73129 in inventory, FAS # unknown.
1972: recovered (Dixon Smith)
1978: (Rod Barnes)
1982: N51SL, restoration at Chino
1994: N151SE, "Merlin's Magic"
2000: Firewall forward restoration
2000: Reno Races - raced very fast 430+ mph!
had problems with the throttle linkage breaking twice,
kept Stu from finishing the Gold race on Sunday.
An excellent improvement from prior years.
2001: Reno - races canceled
2002: Reno - rinish 5th in Gold at 413 mph (Bill Eberhardt flying)
2003: Reno - finish 5th in Silver at 389 mph
2004: Reno - Bill qualified 1t 423 mph, engine problems during the week caused a thursday night engine change. Got it done and back into the races. Stu finished the week at 375 mph in the Bronze.

2006: During qualifying, the race motor gave up under moderate race power. Crew worked hard to get stocker in. They qualified on Wed. (last chance) in the middle of the pack. On Saturday, high pressure O2 was put in a low pressure bottle in the rear fuselage and it exploded! Damage is major as skins blew off, cable were broken, the tank was flatened and blown apart. Witness's said "it was like a bomb". Luckily, nobody was seriously hurt. Merlins Magic was broke down and put on a truck for a trip home and a rebuild. Good Luck to the crew of Merlins Magic! We hope to see her back in the skies as soon as possible.

2006: December - Merlin's Magic is airworthy once more! Gerry Beck's shop and the crew of Merlin's Magic with help from Jim Marinelli did a super job getting the repairs done so quickly.
2010: Stu Eberhardt is unlimited check pilot and looking very good chasing students around the course. If you want to race unlimiteds at Reno, you must pass through Stu. Eberhardt is fair and by the book.

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