Mad Max, N51MX, 45-11559
Location: Dunkirk, NY
Mad Max is a dual control/dual cockpit TF-51D Mustang. Built in 1945 as a P-51D-30NT it was converted to a Cavalier Mustang II in 1968 and was delivered to the Salvadorian Air Force in 1969. Jack Flaherty, returned it to the United States in 1974 and during the 1970’s and 1980’s it went through various owners. In 1995 was restored for its new owner, Max Chapman, by Fort Wayne Air Service as the TF-51D Mustang, “Mad Max”. It wears the colors of Major Sam Brown of the 307th Fighter Squadron, 31st Fighter Group, 15th Air Force at Pomigliano, Italy. After being the custodian for approximately 20 years, Mr. Chapman passed the keys over to Louis Horschel in 2015.
Pilot – Louis Horschel
Little Witch, N51LW, 44-74497
Location: Kissimmee, FL
The Little Witch was originally built as a D-Model and was transferred 1950 to the RCAF Squadron 420 in London Ontario. From 1958 through 1979 it went through various ownership until it was transferred to Bomberger and named “Vergeltungswaffe”. In May of 1998 Robert Jepson / Lady Alice Corporation purchased the aircraft where it underwent a three-year restoration being converted to a TF-51 by Peter and Richard Lauderback of Stallion 51 Maintenance. Renamed The Little Witch it was repainted to the 353rd Fighter Group, 352nd Fighter Squadron scheme. The Little Witch was awarded the Post World War II Grand Champion at Sun’n Fun 2003. In 2008, Mr. James Goodwin purchased the aircraft until selling it in 2013 to Ariel Luedi. The airplane is kept at Stallion 51 where it is operated and maintained.
Pilot – Ariel Luedi
N5444V, 44-73751
Location: Dunkirk, NY
From the battlefields of history to the skies of today, the legendary P-51D Mustang 44-73751, now N5444V, has lived many lives. First assigned to Offutt and Hill AFBs, it survived a 1947 landing accident at Brooks Field before serving in the Air National Guard. Declared surplus, it was bought in 1957 for $1,555 by Harlan Baker, passing through the hands of actor Robert Mitchum, then Keith Larkin, who gave it a white-and-gold livery, before landing with Ron Van Kretgan. Left outside in San Jose for over two decades, its resurrection began in 2002, culminating in a stunning 2009 first flight. Darren Moore purchased N5444V in 2011 & in 2012 had it repainted and gave it a new name “Miss Kandy”. Darren based this P-51 at Zamperini Field in Torrance, CA. (KTOA) Darren is very proud of the fact that he picked this Mustang up in 2012 and flew it to Torrance, then up until Louis Horschel flew it away in 2024, he was the only pilot! N5444V was sold to Black Pearl Mustang LLC in 2024. Now, in 2025, it takes to the skies once more, thrilling airshow crowds as #3 in the JackAces Formation Aerobatic Team.
*Credit and thank you for this history to mustangsmustangs.com
Pilot – Marco Rusconi
FG-1D Corsair, NZ5612
Location: Dunkirk, NY
Born in the final days of World War II, the FG-1D Corsair, s/n NZ5612, took flight with the U.S. Navy before joining the Royal New Zealand Air Force on June 15, 1945. After the war, it was stored at Rukuhia, where it languished until rescued in the early 1970s and transported to Auckland. For three decades, it sat untouched in Wanaka under Ross Jowitt’s care until its rebirth began. By 2012, Barry G. Avent registered it as N43FG in South Carolina, and in 2014, after years of meticulous restoration, Elliot Cross piloted its first post-restoration flight. N43FG was sold in 2017 to Black Pearl 51 LLC. From 2017 and ongoing this Corsair is based in Western NY and is flown by Louis Horschel all over the East coast. Louis is performing in airshows from Florida to Canada. This aircraft is flown primarily in the US Navy’s Legacy Flight Program. N43FG can be seen at airshows leading flight profiles with EA-18G Growler’s, F/A-18 Rhino’s and F-35C Lightning II’s. Rarely Louis can be found performing full aerobatic demonstrations with the Corsair as well.
*Credit and thank you for much of this history to Aerialvisuals.ca
Navy Legacy Pilot – Louis Horschel
P51D Mustang Specs:
North American Aviation
Wing Span: 37
Length: 32’3”
Height: 13’ 8”
Empty Weight: 7,125 lbs
Max T.O. weight: 11,600 lbs
Max speed 505 MPH
Ceiling: 41,900’
Max range 2,300 miles
Powerplant: V-1650-7 Rolls Royce Merlin Supercharged V-12 by Packard Car company
6 – Browning AN-M2 .50 Cal machine guns, external bomb load of 2,000 lbs, or 10 – 5” rockets
Fun Facts about P51D Mustang
North American designers Raymond Rice and Edgar Schmued designed the Mustang. A prototype was finished in 117 days minus the engine, plus wheels which had to be borrowed from an T6 trainer. Six weeks later after several modifications, the aircraft took to the air on October 26, 1940, the test pilot was Vance Breese. The XP-51 reached 382 mph, exceeding the P40’s top speed by 25 mph. The P-51 was an immediate success.
Major George Preddy Jr., a U.S. Army Air Force officer and P-51 Mustang Ace, was the highest scoring US Ace of all time with 27.5 aerial victories. George was killed accidently by friendly fire Christmas day 1944. The Mustang was considered by many to be the best piston aircraft of World War II and became one of the world’s aviation elites. A total of 16,776 Mustangs of all types were built. Mustangs destroyed 4,950 enemy aircraft making them the highest scoring US fighter in the Europe Theater of Operations. They were used as dive-bombers, bomber escorts, ground-attackers, interceptors, for photo-recon missions, trainers, transports (with a jump-seat), and after the war, high performance racers.
In 2013, a P-51 flown out of Palm Beach, Fl. by Doug Matthews, broke several long-standing records. He broke the all-time altitude record obtaining 42,560 feet as well as maximum altitude in level flight of 40,100 ft. and time-to-climb 9,000 meters in 18 mins. and 12,000 meters in 31 mins.