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!
WE ARE A COMPANY THAT WE MAKE ANY AIRCRAFT REPLICAS SCALE
Can we parishioners for to allow retractable gear? That’s a deal breaker in the USA where their would be a good market or if we could have kits
Sorry I don’t want to fly a fake p51 that’s 70% the size with fixed wheels..if your going to do at least build A true replica like they do with cars,and offer updated electronics and engine components or use replica components and a true rolls-Royce engine and prop..
I’d rather pay a extra 25k or even 100k so when I go to the hanger early at 0500. I feel like TC ,& that I’m not pulling out a toy plane to fly around in.some of us may not have 4.5 million like TC had for his but for a few 100k I’d be happy knowing if I crash it ,I’m not destroying another piece of history that would be lost forever, it’s like I’d not want to drive a true GT500,or a gt350 on the street every day, knowing if I wanted to update it and install a modern drivetrain I’m destroying a true piece of American history I’d rather have something that’s meaningless to history but to me it’s meaningful and the amount of enjoyment I get out of it not worrying about the loss and on top of that the amount of insurance you’ve gotta pay compared to a true replica..think on it pls..
Considering the fact you can not spell correctly nor use correct punctuation or capitalization, I doubt you have the funds to buy a VW Beetle, let alone any airplane.
I cannot afford one of these planes but renting any single engine plane and flying it is more fun that you can ever have.
For me, not being able to utilize the retractable gear here in the U.S. is a deal breaker.
This looks to be a(nother) interesting P-51 replica, but certainly not the first. Titan Aircraft has been selling a well regarded version, the “T-51”, as an Experimental Amateur-Built kit, for a decade, or so. Available in both Light-Sport compliant, and non LSA, versions, it is available with 5, or so, different engines from approx. 100 hp (Rotax), to a GM V8 (300-ish hp). Performance varies accordingly. Completed versions seem to end up costing in the $125K, to $175K range, so the FK version, at approx. $100K euros may be quite a “bargain” (especially at today’s exchange rate). There are also P-51 replicas available from Lohle, and W.A.R., and undoubtedly others as well. But the Titan is made of metal, like the original, and has REAL rivets!
Please contact me I am interested in P51
Tem interesse em uma réplica…
hey I’m in utah and yes i want to own a p51 mustang plane dreamed of having one since i was a little boy. If my dream is possible please contact me Thank You THC The Hale Company Jeffery Hale jkhthc@email.com
in the US the loehle P5151 with retractible gear can be flown under light sport with brackets on the gear which make them unretractible.However loehle is out of business now.i am sure your FK51 would qualify for that option.is there a dealer for your kit here in the US.
When u add a V8 as ur power source please contact me.
I’m 6’1” Is ur seat adjustable?