Wednesday, August 8, 2018

August XP-82 Twin Mustang Update



After ten long years, we are ready to fly ... almost. We received our Airworthiness Certificate on Sunday, one day before Oshkosh. This did not give us enough time to fly off the restriction hours (15), and then get a check ride. Tom went to Oshkosh to give a talk on the XP-82 restoration. While there there was a F7F Tigercat that had an apparent wheel failure; the same type of wheel our 82 has. Even though our two wheels passed inspection, Tom insists putting on two new wheels. Then we will have our first flight. (Photo credit: Michael O'Leary Air Classics)


(Photo credit:  Weezie Barendse)


(Photo credit:  Connor Madison EAA)


Tom's wish to own and fly one is about to come true.
(Photo credit: Connor Madison EAA)


(Photo credit: Connor Madison EAA)

Thanks!
The XP-82 Team

20 comments:

  1. Marvelous! I am pleased for you guys and proud of you. If I did not live in Minnesota, I would ask for permission to stop over and look at your aircraft. My late father would have loved this!

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  2. Fantastic work, Tom and Team. Unprecedented. Phenomenal!!

    -Bruce Benyshek

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  3. You and your team are true artisans. Just beautiful work. Good luck to all of u for the future

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  4. Cant believe its just about ready to fly..this has to be the airplane restoration of the century!Kudos to Tom and his dedicated group of craftsmen...many said this day would never come..Well done guys!

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  5. Hello. My name is Charles, I am a private pilot at Embry Riddle. Are you gonna need a pilot or a roadie? I’ve been following this since the beginning and I was wondering if I could help in any way. Let me know

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  6. Cant wait to find out who will be at the controls....it will be a great day! I've thoroughly enjoyed following this for the past several years, literally anxious at the end of each month with eager anticipation for the next update:)

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  7. Congratulations. I have been following this restoration for a couple of years now and always look forward to updates.

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  8. Congratulations! I visited you last March and ia am anxious to hear about and see photos of, your first flight.

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  9. When I was about 14 or 15 my uncle had a good friend that we would go and visit in the same neighbor hood this was in the mid 70's I went for a walk around the neighbor hood and came across all these airplanes at the gentleman house. Being a fan of old Warbirds birds I ventured in and was amazed by what I saw. I new what a P-51 Mustang was but I had never seen or heard of a P-82 until that day. I was floored. I had always loved the Mustang and my young bother was a P-38 fan and we would always argue about which one was better he would say the P-38 was better because of the twin engine's but now I had him there was no way he could top a Twin Mustang. As I recall when I last seen it it was painted all black including the canopies but looking at the old pictures that doesn't seem to be the case. Never the less I am very happy that it has found a home and will be flying in the near future. Hopefully my brother and I can come and see it fly in the near future.

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  10. I had only recently heard about this plan on YouTube. And pure luck a few days later I am at Douglas FBO Cerulean and saw your plane! Like wow, its more than you can imagine. The one at Wright Pat is nice, but you know its not a flyer. Yours is. We wish you all the best and hope to see this plane make the trip to Oshkosh next year. You should stop over in Cincinnati along they way, we'll buy you lunch at least and toss a few bucks at the fuel tab too.

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  11. Can not wait to see it at Oshkosh whenever you are ready. Glad to hear you are taking your time and playing it safe with this treasure.

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  12. Wow! Congratulations on making it this far. I saw her at close range back in March. She's amazing.
    Hang in there. This is one for the ages.

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  13. From the Netherlands: This is a fantastic project, I'm following this for 8 years now. For this project I wish I would live in the US. Please get her in the air in a safe way and please do enjoy every second of it. I will keep on following you.

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  14. Im going to bust waiting for the next update.All the best on the first flight.Robert

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  15. Please bring her down to the Sun and Fun Fly in at Lakeland, Florida! You guys have done amazing work!

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  16. Can I just say how excited I am to see this fly? This is one of my favorite planes. Amazing work! I hope her first flight goes well

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