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43-6006 N51Z
" Polar Bear "
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Type: |
P-51A-1NA |
| Serial #: |
43-6006 |
| Registry: |
N51Z |
| Owner: |
Jerry Gabe |
| Base: |
Hollister CA |
| Status: |
Flying |
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History / Previous Identities:
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1943 April 3rd: Accepted at Mines Field.
1943 May 1st: Delivered to Army Air Corps Ladd Field, Fairbanks AK
1944 16th Feb: crashed near Summit Alaska. Pilot, Lt. EdwardW. Getter was killed.
1977: Wreckage recovered by Waldon "Moon" Spillers.
Eight year Restoration in Ohio by Spillers & friends
1985: July 3rd: first flight
1995: sale to Jerry Gabe of San Jose, now Hollister CA
2005: Entered in the Reno Air Races, flown by Dave Morss. Solid performance with a new stock Allison. Race #25 turned mid 300's mph during the week.
2006: June: plan to race at Reno, but have an engine problem. The Allison is removed and sent to a shop in the northwest US for repairs. They get it back in August and install it a few weeks before it is time to leave to Reno. Everything is good. At Reno, the Allison performs very well and Dave Morss pilots Polar Bear to a Sunday Bronze Victory. Congratulations to Jerry Gabe, Dave Morss and the Polar Bear Crew!
2007: Trouble with the engine and it has to come out and go to the shop for some major work. Should be flying again summer 2007, hopefully in time to go to the P-51 Gathering in Ohio.
2007: Engine work complete and test flown before the GML. Flight to and from the GML without trouble.
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Images of 43-6006 N51Z " Polar Bear "
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44 pics on file: 35 here, plus 9 more on members page
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Image Credits:
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Curtis Fowles - MustangsMustangs (# 1,3-6,8,9,14-18,20-23,25-28,30-36,40-45)
Skywolf (# 2)
Vivian Watts (# 24)
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