The AOPA Pilot Blog has brought our attention to FK Lightplanes, a small-aircraft manufacturer based in Poland, and its FK51 Mustang – a 70%-scale replica of the famous P-51 Mustang, an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II and the Korean War.
The aircraft only weighs 1,000 pounds (a limit for ultralights in Europe), has retractable landing gear (which can’t be done in the American light sport aircraft world, but the company is developing a version with fixed gear to comply with the American light sport rules) and a couple of extra special details, namely:
- Around 100,000 simulated rivets and screw heads in its molds, meaning the carbon-fiber airplane aircraft appears to be made of metal.
- When the aircraft is started, a sound system is automatically triggered which plays a recording of the Merlin engine used by the real Mustang. The speaker is disguised as a cooling vent on the lower cowl.
- Puffs of smoke will emerge from fake exhaust stacks to add to illusion you are flying a real P-51 Mustang.
One other thing: The aircraft is aerobatic as heck (because its supposed to be a P-51 Mustang) and is capable of plus 8 Gs and minus 4 Gs.
The AOPA Pilot Blog noted the following video on bydanjohnson.com where Dan talks to company representatives about the aircraft:
FK Lightplanes intends to complete final testing in July and then get final approvals in Europe with deliveries starting in late summer. And the price? €99,800 (net excluding taxes).
That may sound pricey for what amounts to a light sport aircraft, but if you have ever dreamed of owning or flying your own P-51 Mustang, the FK51 is going to be your only chance!