Loaded out a P51 Mustang today

[m16ty]

Well, as many of you know, I'm in the machinery moving business and thought I had moved just about everything until today. We loaded a P51 out of a basement in Nashville headed for a museum somewhere in Louisiana.

The plane belonged to a guy named Pony Maples who passed away earlier this year. He had a WWII aviation museum set up in his basement complete with the P51.

The plane is completely restored but has no wings. The museum that purchased it is planning on selling the engine to get enough money to buy some wings. They are going to hang it from the ceiling and don't want the added weight of the engine. It's kind of a shame because all the paperwork is more or less completed to make it operational again. I was told the plane sold for $320,000 with the wings missing.

If you get a chance google "Pony Maples". This guy was something else and had a huge collection of WWII stuff. He also founded Ramo enterprises that made the M2HB for the military.

 

[doghead]

I just read this, it's very interesting.

http://www.crawfordservices.com/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o_id=2078982&fh_id=10561

 

[juanprado]

Sounds like it is headed to the National WW2 Museum in New Orleans as they have aircraft indoors suspended from the rafters. Maybe I can take some after pics once it is in the collection and displayed?

 

[gunboy1656]

Got to print this out so when people look at me funny for owning a deuce I can show them what this guy stored in his basement.

That is not something you see everyday.

 

[m16ty]

Most of the other stuff he had were still in the basement but wasn't on display so I didn't get any pics. I did find out there are many pics online through a search when it was still all set up.

The plane has a immaculate paint job on it but they said they were going to repaint it for a Tuskegee Airmen display. Evidently their planes were painted different.

 

[wheelspinner]

What a legacy! I guess the fact that he "learned to fly his first plane on the way home fome buying it" says an awful lot. Wish I had met him.

Also wish I had the wallet it will take to buy that engine.........

 

[GUNNUT in Iowa]

The museum that purchased it is planning on selling the engine to get enough money to buy some wings.

I have spent much time thinking about this.

I am a Collector of US military weapons and equipment. My collection will last longer than I will.

What am I to do with my collection, when that time comes? It has taken me YEARS to gather all of this stuff together. I hate the thought of donating it to a museum - and then having it parted out or sold off just so they can pay the light bill - or - buy a new pair of wings for their airplane.

If it can't stay together, then I hope they bury it under me, so I can guard it. That will take a big hole.

 

[zak]

Maybe the group should get a building to house our stuff in one spot when we depart this world

 

[Heath_h49008]

What a legacy! I guess the fact that he "learned to fly his first plane on the way home fome buying it" says an awful lot. Wish I had met him.

Also wish I had the wallet it will take to buy that engine.........

Seems I recall a P-51 in New Mexico that might have use of some mechanicals... Coolers, engine, etc.... Spares can be hard to come by, and I know they have their own A&Ps to overhaul.

 

[m16ty]

Wish I had met him.

Me too. You know, I have known about him for several years and wanted to meet him but I always thought he was some big business man that didn't want to be bothered. After talking to the people at his house I found out that he loved to meet new people and would let anybody come over and tour his house and factory that asked. If I had known he had been so hospitable, I would have called him up years ago and hung out with him awhile.

 

[quickfarms]

Wonder what happened to the wings.

 

[m16ty]

I found a vid of him online talking about the plane and he stated he had sent the wings out to be rebuilt at that time. All I know for sure is they stated the wings weren't with the sale of the plane when we were there to load it. Evidently they somehow went missing from the time he sent them out for repair to the time they settled his estate.

I'm thinking maybe they were in too bad of shape to be repaired or the repair cost was going to be more than a replacement set of wings.

 

[patracy]

Did you find out anything else that we had talked about earlier?

 

[zguinness]

Sounds like it is headed to the National WW2 Museum in New Orleans as they have aircraft indoors suspended from the rafters. Maybe I can take some after pics once it is in the collection and displayed?

I'm headed there this weekend. I'm a former sub guy and my wife says they have a submarine exhibit right now. Gonna go check it out.

I'll have to go back when they get that P-51 hanging from the rafters.

 

[Heath_h49008]

I'm headed there this weekend. I'm a former sub guy and my wife says they have a submarine exhibit right now. Gonna go check it out.

I'll have to go back when they get that P-51 hanging from the rafters.

If you ever get up to this neck of the woods, you might enjoy this old lady.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Silversides_(SS-236)

 

[ridingshotgun]

This guy sounds awesome. I hate to see us losing that generation. Glad you got to move that plane.

 

[wreckerman893]

I just read the obit. WOW!!!!

 

[ReoRider]

In addition to the aircraft and firearm world, Pony was very active in the early days of the start of the current military vehicle club. He would show up at the meets with beautifully restored half-tracks and then enthusiastically share lots of technical and parts information with us newbies. That great attitude is the strength of the hobby and continues to flourish at the meets, in the publications and on the forums.

 

[m16ty]

Did you find out anything else that we had talked about earlier?

To stay within the site rules, I'll shoot you a PM.