Timeless

P-51 Mustang, before takeoff
Originally uploaded by Terry Foote

Part of the decision to move the date of this year's airshow was the promise of more military aircraft demonstrations at the Sumner County Aviation Festival. This year there is talk of the event hosting the P-51 — and I couldn't be more excited about it!

What is the P-51?
The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range single-seat fighter aircraft that entered service with Allied air forces in the middle years of World War II. The P-51 became one of the conflict's most successful and recognizable aircraft. Some have argued that it was a "war-winning" weapon. It certainly was a decisive factor in the aerial Battle of Germany. After World War Two, the Mustang continued to serve with the USAF and other Western air forces, including distinguished service in the Korean War.
As well as being economical to produce — over 15,000 P-51 Mustangs of all types were built from 1940-1945 — the Mustang was a fast, well-made and highly durable aircraft. The definitive version of the single-seat fighter was powered by the Packard V-1650-3, a two-stage two-speed supercharged 12-cylinder Packard-built version of the legendary Rolls-Royce Merlin engine, and armed with six of the aircraft version of the .50 caliber (12.7 mm) Browning machine guns.
The P-51 Mustang and the men that flew them saved lives in the skies and on the ground. (http://www.cavanaughflightmuseum.com/Aircraft/C-47/Page1.html)