# How do I buy a P51 Mustang?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-buy-a-p51-mustang/170980>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 24, 2003, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-buy-a-p51-mustang/170980 "2003-04-24T23:58:02Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\
**Post date:** [May 23, 2004, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-buy-a-p51-mustang/170980/21 "2004-05-23T19:31:11Z")

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> [@LSLGuy](#):
>
> These machines are not toys and they can kill you very quickly and efficiently. I’ve flown lightplanes with folks who’d be safer juggling chain saws.

Yeah, acrobatics are fun for a while, but like everything, eventually it palls.

Airplanes like the P-51 and all highly maneuverable planes are right on the edge of stability. For example, my squadron was due to get a P-51 after WWII ended (it never happened) and we all studied the Pilot’s Operating Manual very carefully in preparation for the day. On thing sticks in my mind. In all capital letters was the warning “NEVER SPIN THE AIRPLANE INTENTIONALLY. IF AN ACCIDENTAL SPIN OCCURS BELOW 10000 FT ABANDON THE AIRCRAFT. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO RECOVER.”

So if you’re going to do acrobatics make sure you don’t stall or spin the aircreaft, ever.

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