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Thunder Mustang

The Raceplane: Thunder Mustang  -  The Engine: Falconer V-12 Engine  -  Race Results

Blue Thunder is an all composite, kit-built aircraft manufactured by the Thunder Builders Group, called a Thunder Mustang. The Thunder Mustang is a 3/4 scale version of the World War II era North American P-51D Mustang. Blue Thunder was built over a 3-year period by American Air Racing with air racing in mind. 

What is it like to build and fly a Thunder Mustang? 

We chose the Thunder Mustang to race because it is the most powerful and fastest piston-powered kit aircraft available. Thunder Mustangs outperform jet and turboprop kits below 10,000 ft MSL. Once you have any contact with a Thunder Mustang, it will affect you for the rest of your life. 

The Thunder Mustang raises the pride, exhilaration and anxiety to such a high level that it makes the Thunder Mustang look like the Space Shuttle sitting on your ramp, but the excitement and joy of flying can never be surpassed. There are hundreds of little things that become burned in ones memory about flying a Thunder Mustang. One of the most unique and memorable visions is the view out the canopy at the double row of Cam Locks on the top of the cowl that are always in front of you, and which you must keep lined up with where you want to go. There is no question that owning and flying a completed Thunder Mustang makes anyone the most testosterone-enhanced pilot at the fly-in.

The most obvious difference between Blue Thunder and other Thunder Mustangs is the 3-blade Hartzell propeller. The stock 4-blade was damaged in 2001 when Blue Thunder made a emergency landing due to the left main gear would not extend. It was decided to switch to the 3-balde propeller because it would increase the overall aerodynamic efficiency of the airframe and powerplant combination.

Other modifications are less obvious: a little streamlining here, some weight reduction there, and some secret stuff mixed in between. It all combines to make Blue Thunder one of the top contenders in the Sport Division, and the center of attention wherever it goes. It may be a 75% scale P-51, but it offers over 100% of the performance.

Below you will find the specifications for a stock Thunder Mustang compared to a P-51 Mustang. Note the differences in the Performance section.