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The North American P-51 Mustang
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P-51 Mustang Survivors
87-4488 N6WJ "Precious Metal"
Thom Richard, Kissimmee FL
P-51 Survivor 87-4488 N6WJ
Status: Repairs
NAA Type:
Conversion:
Modified Racer
Serial #: 44-88a
Registry: N6WJ
.. past:
  P-51 Mustangs Survivors  
History: 44-88a N6WJ "Precious Metal"

1987: N6WJ, built, P-51XR Griffon engine racer, Don Whittington / World Jet Inc, Fort Lauderdale FL
1988: Sep 12, debut, Reno Air Races - named "Precious Metal" (like 44-73518)
1988: Sep 18, blew engine during gold race - Whittington belly landed safely
Many thought N6WJ was N5483V, but just the tail section was used (probably included N# from N5483V)
Did not race for many years.
2000: N6WJ, sale, Ron Buccarelli / Lake Air Inc, Ft. Lauderdale FL
2001: Sep 15, return to the Reno Air Races (races canceled after 9-11-01)
2002: Sep 15, Ron Buccarelli placed 4th in Silver at 381 mph
2003: Sep 14, Ron Buccarelli placed 1st in Bronze at 407 mph
2004: Sep 19, Ron Buccarelli placed 3rd in Silver at 408 mph
2006: Sep 17, Ron Buccarelli placed 3rd in Silver at 391 mph
2007: Sep 13, Ron Buccarelli - Silver Heat 1A - DQ for East Deadline cut
2011: N6WJ, sale, Thom Richard, Kissimmee FL
2011: Jun, brought to PRS - approved for Reno Air Races
2011: Sep, Reno Air Races - cancelled after Leeward crash
2012: Reno Air Races - Precious Metal never sounded so good - Thom Richard and crew are working hard to transform Precious Metal into a top unlimited contender
2012: Sep 11, Qualified at Precious Metal record of 463 mph - congrats Thom
2012: Sep 16, DNF Gold Final - gear door came off during race
2013: Reno Air Races - worked all off-season to make many mods. Race engine was making metal on the test run, so a last minute thrash to get an engine built between last year's and what is still good from the race motor. Arrived in Reno with no time to spare. They fought gremlins all week but put up a great show with what they had to work with.
2013: Sep 15, Qualified 440 mph - finished 5th in Gold at 434 mph
2014: Sep, Reno Air Races - great showing in gold but DQ for supposed east deadline cut
2015: Sep 08, damaged, aircraft burned during taxi after fueling - heavily damaged

The Last of the Wild Horses

P-51 Survivors book featuring images from Dick Phillips and John Dienst, with Mark Phillips. To order, goto The Last of the Wild Horses. You can order online. Price is $100 for pages and pages of P-51 Survivor history and photos. Over 2,500 photos! The late Dick Phillips shared hundreds of his P-51 images with us at MustangsMustangs over the last 25 years. If you can, help support his life-long passion. I recently ordered my copy.

Thank you!
Curtis Fowles, MustangsMustangs

90 Images of   44-88a   N6WJ   "Precious Metal" on file
Images of   44-88a
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Image Credits:
  Dave Hackett    
  Anthony Taylor   WarbirdFotos  
  Scott Germain   Warbird Aero Press  
  Curtis Fowles   MustangsMustangs  
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