Tribute to an Ace

摘要

In recent years, roll-outs and maiden flights of freshly-restored North American P-51 Mustangs have become so frequent that they are almost taken for granted. However, when Cal Pacific Airmotive of Salinas, California, pushed an important B-model out through its hangar doors, it caused a considerable stir. What sets this particular Mustang apart from the others is not that it is a P-51B, but that it is the first flying example featuring the so-called 'Malcolm Hood' canopy. This bulbous replacement to the original 'birdcage' was a field modification designed by the British Malcolm Company. (See the panel.) This story is not only about a rare P-51 but about the three men who share a common passion for this iconic fighter built over 65 years ago: Jack Roush is a legend in the world of US motor racing; Colonel Clarence E 'Bud' Anderson is a US hero, World War Two veteran and triple 'ace', and Art Teeters is a master craftsman of the Mustang.