P-51D  Mustang  "Val-Halla"

Specifications: 

Armament:  

Six .50-cal. machine guns and ten 5 in. rockets or 2,000 lbs. of bombs.

Engine: 

Packard built Rolls Royce “Merlin” V-1650 of 1,695 hp.

P-51 General Information:  The P-51 was the "100 day wonder" of WWII.  Originally specified and ordered by Great Britain, and ignored by the US Army Air Corps, the aircraft was designed and built by North American Aviation from the ground up in 100 days.  When it's capabilities were later recognized by the USAAC, it was ordered in vast quantities.  The range, speed and high altitude capabilities enabled the Allied forces to escort bombers far deeper into enemy territory than any other fighter aircraft--as exemplified by the 332 Fighter Group (the Tuskegee Airmen in their "Red Tail" Mustangs).  This allowed the continuation and fruition of the American Bomber force's tactic of precision daylight bombing.

N151AF:  Built in 1945, this aircraft served in the Texas Air Guard and was sold to the Venezuelan Air Force.  Along with two others, it was returned to the US by the War Eagles Museum and re-skinned by Olivas Aviation.  It was further restored by Pena Olivas for Bill in 1995 (Restoration history & photos).  Donated by Bill to the museum when the museum was started in 1996, "Val-Halla" reflects the the colors of the 57th FIS (Fighter Interceptor Squadron), the Black Knights.  This is the squadron Bill flew F-89's with back in 1958.  Although the first aircraft to Iceland in the Cold War were Nevada Air National Guard P-51's, the 57th FIS never was officially assigned P-51's.  They were assigned F-94's, F-89 D & H's, F-102's, and the F-15's.  Bill raced this plane at Reno in 1997, '98 and '99 as race #68, commemorating the year Apollo 8 went to the moon.  His best showing with this airplane was on a gusty race Sunday in '97, taking third in the Unlimited Class Silver race.

Val-Halla:  This airplane is named to honor Bill's wife (and museum secretary) Valerie.  The name also reflects the fond memories Bill has for the time he spent in Iceland and the year he spent as Ambassador to Norway.  Val-Halla is Viking heaven and Bill's Air Force call sign was "Viking."

Sound:  The sound you heard (or will hear once your computer finishes loading it up) is that of the mighty Rolls Royce designed, Packard built, "Merlin" V-12, 1500 horse power, engines racing at Reno.

Donated to the Heritage Flight Museum by Bill & Valerie Anders in 1996.

P-51 & F8 over the South Pacific San Juan Islands	P-51 on her way back to her home Hanger
Val-Halla, Bill & Valerie.  Note the 57FIS "Black Knights" patch.	On rollout.
Overhead pass	#68 rounding a pylon in the Reno Air Races.
	Bill & Alan flying the "horses" (i.e. Mustang and Trojan) over Ramona.  Slightly larger format of this on the "Horse Flight" Page