This North American P-51 'Mustang' is getting ready to take to the air at the Reading, PA air show. There are numerous flying P-51s still around. The P-51 was used in Europe as a long-range bomber escort for B-17s and B-24s and later in Japan for B-29s. This is not only a beautiful aircraft, the sound the Rolls-Royce Merlin engine makes is pure music. My buddy Rob and I have gone to airshows in Pennsylvania, New York, Texas, Nevada, Arizona and Reno, also in Nevada, and there are always several P-51s present. In 1997, the 50th anniverary of the USAF as a separate branch, the legendary Chuck Yeager flew a P-51 at Nellis AFB, Las Vegas, Nevada. At the annual Reno Air Races, the unlimited class always includes highly modified Mustangs like 'Strega' and 'Dago Red', and Bearcats like 'Rare Bear' which race on a triangular, roughly seven mile course and achieve speeds of near 500 miles an hour, and sometime exceed it. This picture was taken on 3 June 2006. Thank you for viewing and commenting on my recent uploads and a special 'Thank you' to those that may have added some of them to their favorites, Sig... Also, please feel free to point out possible errors I may have made when quoting statistics. It will be much appreciated.