TF-51D Mustang “Miss Ava” G-CLNV / 45-11518 | W Air Collection
- STATUS: Airworthy
- LOCATION: La Ferte Alais, France
- OWNER: W Air Collection
- ROLE: Fighter
- BUILT:1945
- LENGTH: 32ft 9.5in
- WINGSPAN: 37.5ft
- ENGINE: Rolls-Royce Merlin V1650-7
- MAXIMUM SPEED: 436mph
- RANGE: 1,155 miles
- ARMAMENT: 6x 50 Cal Browning, 2x 1000 lb bombs, 10 x 5″ rockets
45-11518 / “Miss Ava” is the rebuilt P-51D “Janie” that was previously flown in the UK from 2001-2016. She was supplied to the Royal New Zealand Air Force in 1945 as NZ2427, although upon arrival she was immediately stored until 1952! She was withdrawn from use by 1955 and after another period in storage was sold on to a civilian owner Peter Coleman who by 1960 placed her into storage in Blenheim, New Zealand.
There she remained stored until passing on to Tim Wallis’ Alpine Fighter Collection in 1990 as an incomplete airframe for a potential restoration to flight. However, in 1997 she was purchased by Maurice Hammond and shipped to the UK for a full restoration to flight. She flew again in July 2001 in the USAAF markings of 44-14419 “Janie”, of the 353rd Fighter Group. Tragically, she was involved in a landing accident in October 2016. The original wings, tail and multiple other components have been incorporated with a new TF-51D fuselage, making for a new beginning for this resurrected warbird.
TF-51D Mustang “Miss Ava” G-CLNV / 45-11518 of the French W Air Collection was returned to flight last summer in the UK at Sywell by Air Leasing / Ultimate Warbird Flights.
Her stunning bare metal finish and distinctive black tail markings are of the 23rd Fighter Group, 75th Fighter Squadron (Tiger Sharks), of the 14th Air Force based in China in 1945. The “Miss Ava” nose art is inspired by the name Aero Vintage Academy with who she operates. However, the stenciling shows she is painted as P-51K 44-11533, the mount of Capt. E. McGuire, albeit now with a new name and code “23”.
