XP-82 - Fate, Circumstance, & Necessity
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- čas přidán 11. 09. 2024
- The North American XP-82 Twin Mustang has been one of the most highly anticipated warbird restorations in recent memory. After 10 years of perseverance and more than 1.5 million man-hours of work, noted warbird restorer Tom Reilly, EAA 802376, has this rare prototype close to flying again. Read the full story of this remarkable and unique restoration in the August issue of EAA Sport Aviation magazine.
![XP-82 Twin Mustang First Official Flight [ EXCLUSIVE FIRST VIDEO]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/wEJwLcj6qEU/mqdefault.jpg)
''I gave them 6 times what they wanted''...you sir are a true gentleman and it's nice to see someone not have greed in their ambition. What a joy to have a human being like you still on this planet. Good man.
Yes.
"its worth way more than that" "eventually we setteled on a price 6 times more than he asked for" what a gentleman
Absolute legend.
So, how much did he pay for it, and did that include the engines or had they long since gone to a hydroplane?
@@tomasinacovell4293 he doesnt mention in the vid but you know, there is google
This is a man that understand Karma. Treat people right and get right back from the universe.
What a bell end more like.
Now, sit down son.
When a Mustang and a P-38 love each other very much ..................
they make a baby with a name that makes absolutely no sense at all
And what is rest of story
@@jasonbourne1028 you could say the same about the movie cars
Thank God for people like Tom Reilly who are willing to spend their time and treasure bringing historical relics like the XP-82 back to the world of the living so we can see part of what THE greatest generation did
3:42 "Miss Margret, I will never cheat you.....Tell me more and I'll tell you when to stop." The impressiveness of this restoration shadows in comparison to the character of the man who restored it.
What a story! That will be the star of Oshkosh next year, I hope!
Hey dude. You're really into airplanes aren't you?
Hey, man, I subscribe to your channel! I love all the ballistics tests of the ammo.
Hopefully the XP-82 will be flying in the next month or so. They've been performing taxi runs for the past couple of months.
@@major_kukri2430 , aircraft and exotic 12 gauge rounds. I guess certain people have similar interests....
Hard to get bored when those are your interests ;)
It just blows my mind the amount of knowledge and passion your team must have to do restorations like this so people like me can have the opportunity to watch, listen, touch, and experience these planes in real life instead of the pages of a history book. Thank you and congratulations!
I have been beyond thankful to see this bird not only on the ground, but in the sky this year at Sun N Fun 19. It was by far the best experience i've ever had at an airshow seeing this masterpiece in action!
just awesome and kudoes to you for treating the seller with respect and fairly
kudos (no e)
+Exige000 ..triggered spell check nazi (one z )
Dealing with honesty.
not altogether altruistic. it's a small community and he needed help from within the community for the project. the bad karma/rep of lowballing the seller would have impeded that assistance.
Agreed! He is DEFINITELY not a liberal.
I love people like this that keep encouraging the old WW2 planes of all types
Gave me the willies! Wow. Your barter and being honest made me feel warm and glad to know honest people still exist.
Thank you! Damn fine work and commitment...
These mechanical marvels .. Worth every penny and all the time it takes to build one . It's fantastic to see one intact . I've only seen pictures in magazines . This was a great time and I history . Thank you all . For bringing her back
Outstanding ! I was surprised to hear how little commonality it shares with the P-51 .
G Crauwels compare the p51h to the P-51 d or K model. At a glance the same but side-by-side not even close
I was thinking the same, it would be interesting to see a merlin version though, that would be an awesome aircraft too.
Since this is the XP-82, the Prototype, it IS one of the 22 Merlin powered Twin Mustangs mentioned In the video. I believe the P/F-82 is still the only military aircraft to be faster and equipped with more powerful engines in it's prototype and training units, than the models that saw combat (Korea).
There was much pressure to use an All American engine: the General Motors Allison, and not pay the licensing fee to Rolls Royce for the Merlin. Also, the Packard plant where the Merlin had been built for the P-51, was being decommissioned. The priority on long range with 300 mph cruise, may also have pushed towards using less powerful engines. It still could do around 450 mph at around 20,000 feet when at full throttle.
@@davidrowley8251 wow...450 mph is impressive.
This aircraft is one of the diamonds of the world aviation and this is the part that humanity has the opportunity to see how this aircraft looks, flies, and how its engines work. To restore this plane is a huge work, but you can definitely assume that you live for a reason! Thank !
I live about a half hours drive from the late Mr. Soplatas santuary. I remember seeing and touching the XP-82 and F-82E, amongst his other treasures, when I was young. To see this legend almost ready to fly is amazing! Great work!
he had a big collection of old planes !? a plane junk yard!? museum!? he passed away, did alot go to scrap!?
Pretty much a plane junk yard. I suppose you could call it an informal museum. I forget what the biggest airframe he had in there but it was BIG. There was an article in Model Aviation magazine sometime in the 90s IIRC, which is where I read about it.
@@iskandartaib he had a B 36.....I was there in 1979 and photographed. I also worked with Mr Riley in 1977/78 on his first plane restoration a BT-14 and assisted on the JU-52 landing gear he built for Martin Caiden... Tom is a very talented man....
@@chadbailey189 He passed away?!?!
Incredible! The first time I'd seen an XP was in 1977...a static display on the parade ground at Lackland AFB. Always loved the look. Thank you for preserving a piece of history.
Ditto...just a year later, when I was in basic.
I'm lucky to have the opportunity to walk by the hanger and see them working on this airplane everyday. You cant find a nicer or more helpful person than Mr. Riley!
That's really cool to hear.
Kevin,I also found them to be very easy to visit and talk to.,as I drove right up to the back-side of their Hanger. But of course,I went there because I wanted to get pictures,and also buy one of their T-Shirts. Tom was leaving with some guy when I got there,but told me who to see. One of the guy's even wanted to take my picture near the Plane,because he said--''How are people going to really know you were here?'' I figured the money for the T-Shirt would buy a few gallons of Gasoline on their way to Oshkosh,but when I got there,they said the FAA was slow on giving the XP-82 it's Airworthy Certificate.
are you the next store neighbor that was renting the house next door to me that stole the hose from the front of my house in 1987???
I live about a mile from the airport where Tom and others are working on this piece of art/history. Well today I went out to the airport in Douglas,Ga. and watched it fly. Got up close and really heard it rumble. Sweet!!!!!! So this XP flew for the first time today and I was lucky enough to be there to see the show.
The P-51 is my favorite airplane. But the story of this plane is so beautiful, it just about brings me to tears to see a piece of genuine history come back from the literal dead.
Thank you for keeping U. S. Army Air Corps and U.S. Air Force history alive.
it is astonishing that there is not more parts compatibility between the airframes. Simply stunning rebuild. Bravo, so nice to see history brought back to life.
Tahoe200
The 82 wasn't built from 2 'D' models, but from 2 'H' model Mustangs. The fuselage is longer and taller and you can see the vertical fins were much taller.
Yak-11
The P-51H looks almost identical to a P-51D yet only 10% of the parts in the H model are compatible with the P-51D.
I am willing to bet the control stick lock is the same. It is on NAA's P-51, T-28, T-2 (and I bet the FJ-1) though I never took the calipers to each..
I was honored a while back by Bud Anderson with the responsibility of digitizing his WWII 16mm film footage. Along with some incredible gun camera clips was one of him test flying one of these in Alaska.
Cannot wait to see this piece of history to fly, I thought Doc was special (and it definitely is) but this one holds a special place in my heart because my Grandpa flew the XP-82
Av8tore71
I think, if you haven't already done so, you should get in touch with them and share that with them.
@@sonshinelight I haven't actually. I do however, have a boat load of pictures of h flying the plane. It appears that only 1 person will fly this plane as when my grandfather flew there were 2.
Av8tore71
I guarantee they're going to want to hear from you. That's pure awesomeness
@@av8tore71 no there will still be two pilots flying the plane
@@CoffeesDirtiest I was young when my grandfather passed away but always heard stories of him flying this type of Aircraft. What is the job of the second pilot? See I'm older, these are the questions I have that I never asked when I was younger be ause I didn't know better and still don't I guess. Thank you for getting a beautiful piece of history in the air again. Be safe!!
Interesting comment about bomber guys. My fathers cousin Col Thacker was a bomber pilot but made history in the 82. Fantastic job! Thanks for restoring this piece of history! Enjoy the ride!
Respect to you sir!!! You had an opportunity to rip someone off but you did the right thing. I wish there were more like you!
I have trouble keeping four stroke lawnmowers running… I’m so impressed at the brilliance and dedication and tenacity of people like this gentleman. It’s just amazing.
Absolutely awesome. Thank you for keeping history alive.
This plane was on its way to Oskosh and we were at the Springfield Ohio Airport at a car & airplane show July 19 2019 and he landed to refuel. It was so cool hearing those engines run. We watched them re-fuel and take off. It was awesome!
I still have pictures and video of it on my phone. So great that these guys keep these planes flying.
This is my favorite video, my flight instructor John Redrup, flew these in Korea and in the US. Many lessons were driven home referencing flights in the twin. Interestingly enough he explained a twin barrel roll. "If your flying it is ok, but if the other guy is flying it is very strange as the pilot does the roll around his roll axis, your on the outer edge of the roll. Fixing to say the least.
His story of popping out of 00 solid overcast brought home the danger to me. He was only a couple hundred yards off a major thunderstorm. No way of knowing back then. I do so miss those lessons. The difference between a good pilot and a great one. Flying was more then.
Interesting how they came in for a landing in Korea in the Twin and the Mustang. Because of of small arms fire, when over the field, while at altitude, the pilots chopped the throttle, pushed the nose over and dove for the field. Needless to say, they invented shock cooling, but no matter the crew chief would uncan more engines as necessary, they had a giant surplus of engines.
People Like These Are Rare! I'm Thankful For Them! Saving A Bit Of History! Thank You!
Amazing story! I was just thrilled to death to cure death wobble in my old Jeep. I could not imagine building an XP-82 out of scattered parts.
What an impressive story. Historic aviators are a rare breed indeed and the world is a better place for having them.
Many thanks to everyone involved with this project! Fantastic job!
Thank you for resurrecting this piece of aviation history!
Glad to see it finally got it's Airworthiness Certificate and is about ready to fly. And thanks to Tom and Louisa for selling me one of your T-Shirts about 3-weeks ago when I visited you all and took pictures.
I like that he was so honest and gave what the plane was worth..honesty is the only way to go.
Honest People are Rare Kudoes to you for doing the right thing by the seller
Congratulations for taking someone else's comment and attempting to make it your own.... another example of quality from the "Human Species".
@@ArkaelDren jeeze you must have many friends and a successful life kh wait you sit on your pc allday trolling on youtube get a life parasite
@@jamesbeach5445 Your keep sending the kudos out where you think your kudos need to go palsy and don't listen to the lowlife's who have nothing positive to add. I am sure someone else made his comment before he did as well. What a jerk.
kudos (no e)
Honest People are Rare Kudoes to you for doing the right thing by the seller …...ohh and by the way... Kudos!
What a fantastic story, and what a fabulously beautiful bird you have (re)created, Mr. Reilly. Congratulations!
Brings tears to your eyes.
I remember going to Toms place about 5 or 6 years ago. I was getting a new trailer and it wasnt finished. My friend and I stayed the night and had a day to kill. We went to Toms place and fly our Model RC planes for them. They paid for our hotel for the night and showed us all around for the day. It was incredible. They even offered us a ride in their B25 but we had to leave a few days before they were going to fly it.
Great day. I still have a ton of pictures. Will never forget it!
I fully understand when you offered more than what was asked. You can look them in the face and yourself in the mirror and not feel ashamed. It is called honor.
I am looking forward to seeing more of this bird.
One quick question:
Allison or Merlin: Which was the best?
The Merlin-equipped prototype actually had superior performance than the later Allison-equipped version that was put into mass production.
Allison is American. Nothing against the British but by building American, that makes it better. Why put a foreign engine in an American aircraft, even if it gave it a little better performance. Who cares! This is ALL American. Well done everyone!
mountainmanws ya gotta love an honest guy ya kno?
They had problems at altitude and in high-G turns with the Allison engines running out of power, that’s why they put Rolls motors in the Mustangs right??
I appreciate your patriotism and respect it, but in a wartime situation that little improvement in performance might be the difference between living and dying. Even Adolf Galland was so bold as to respond to Goring's query of "what can I get for you" when he replied, "A squadron of Spitfires".
These older planes are so beautiful ! We will never have that era again.
Congratulations on the fruits of your labor, I grew up near where you found this plane lived there without ever knowing about that awesome collection. Good luck with the final steps and thank you guys for restoring history!
Thanks Captain and crew for bringing this magnificent machinery back to life! I saw the XP-82 in Florida last year in an air museum near Cape Canaveral! What a a huge hunk of metal!
Thanks to Edgar for designing the P51! One of the most beautiful aircrafts that ever flew!
There’s nothing more beautiful I saw on the Internet than this.
Soplata gave me a tour also in 1992 after I wrote him to see the B-36 - the first F-82 was gone and unfortunately I did not see or notice the sections of XF-82 - lots of other great stuff to look at of course. Knowing Walter he might have given the plane for free if he thought for sure you were going to restore and fly it.
We owe so much to these men and women who restore our aviation history to us. Simply amazing work. Without their devotion - bordering on fanaticism, really - so much history would be lost forever.
My hometown is about a 40-minute flight in a 172 from where this plane was being restored. I went once about a year ago, and then again not too long ago when it basically looked ready to fly but had the cowlings off and the gun bay open. Such a beautiful plane it literally took my breath away. Also, they've got a great pizza place nearby, I must say!
I have a friend who is friends with the gentleman that is restoring this plane. Probably about the same distance. He has been to see it as well. He has promised me a trip to see it the next time we take his 310 up for some exercise.
My brother, former Vietnam Cobra pilot, Army fixed wing pilot and AA airlines pilot, just sent this to me. Excellent video. Congrats to owner of this project. Eaglegards...
Awesome plane, awesome job, can't wait to see it fly.
And they say money cannot have emotional value...
This man offering 6 times the asking price for something really goes to show his emotion about this plane and he would not defile his emotion about the plane by paying so much less than her value was.
Great story! Thank you so much for sharing!
I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE HER BACK IN THE AIR, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 69 YEARS!!!!!!!😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁
This brings a tear of joy to my eye. Well done. Gotta love all the effort that came together to put this together. Beautiful that we have a surviving XP-82.
Plane is being restore in my home town, Douglas, Ga. Pretty cool to have witnessed it being restored over the years. Only thing left now is new wheels being built and it's ready for its first flight
You know Fitzgerald, ocilla, and Tifton? I'm near there
Do you know if it would be possible to visit the workshop?
It is a public airfield so if you made a few calls and or just scheduled a visit I'm sure they'd let you take a look.
@@thedevildogdj4998 Yes I know those places lol. And yes Oscar just like he said, just call or go up there anytime
I flew in to Douglas Georgia with Tom in the B25, it was our first look at what would become his home base.
Fabulous work, guys! Thank you for bringing a magnificent old warbird back to life!!
about 30 years ago i was driving flatbed otr..im sorry i don't remember exactly where but it was in Kentucky or Tennessee..i saw from the road what seemed to be a twin boom mustang..i turned around..sure enough..in a place just like you found yours..on its side resting on the front and rear wing tips was this twin mustang resting against the trees i believe..the other main wing sticking way up in the air..it was quit the site :)
It’s great to see this plane restored! I grew up within a 10 minute walk from Soplatas air plane grave yard. I knew Walter Saplata. He was very passionate about his planes. As kids we used to go in there and play on all the planes. I remember watching him drive by my house with different planes on his trailer, that were going to his yard. The XP-82 was one of my personal favorites. I had taken many photos of the planes when I was younger, because I knew one day most of them would be sold or parted out.
I’m great full that this plane fell into the hands of someone that has restored it to its former Glory.
I KNEW IT!!!!!! you can't build anything of quality without a cat checking your blueprints first!!! Look at him pondering, "Hmm, I think there should be a change here"
LOL! My ginger cat has to "help" when I pay my bills. I grew up on Air Force Bases in the 50's & 60's and remember seeing an F-82. Must've been 6 or 7 at the time..
Just a fantastic story. So lucky this was not scrapped years ago. We often look at people that collect "junk" as being weird but in the end it is just great that someone saved such valuable history for it to one day be put back to life.
Absolutely awesome, thanks for the great video :)
Tom, I watched you rebuild a B25 in Fairfield with my dad who did some electrical work on Chapter 11 in 1979, he loves your work and watches your videos non stop. Thank you Sir.
What an wonderful story! Thanks for sharing. I hope there is a video of its first time back in the air.
I'm so glad Tom and his crew were able to find and restore this ultra rare piece of history. I have been on the website for many years watching the 82 come together. Might drive down to GA to see it with my own eyes. A person here in the Charlotte NC area donated a canopy for the bird, if I'm thinking correctly.
When I was in Aviation Cadet pre-flight training at Lackland AFB in 1959, there was a twin mustang as a gate guard to the base.
There is still a Twin Mustang there.
there used to be a P47 also but the air force sold it to the highest bidder. It is I believe flying by now as it was a complete A/C.I hope they got something good for it.I suppose it is better now that more persons can see it fly.
This was an absolute pleasure to see at EAA 2019! Excellent work to everyone involved!!!
Such a beautiful machine.
That was beautiful.
Truly exciting--can't wait to see it fly!
This vid has been sitting in my 'Recommended For You' list for about 6 months. I wasn't particularly interested but tonight there was nothing else that grabbed me in the list so I finally watched this.
Well!, (yes I know what you're thinking) this was A-B-S-O-L-U-T-E-L-Y fascinating.
I simply cannot wait to see it fly.
Is that a super corsair @ 1:58?
Wish the story of the-found in the crate- reverse rotating Merlin V-1650-23 was included.
A twist of fate,that made it all possible.
A stunning achievement,thank you Mr. Reilly and team.
it was an at6 you saw
Kudos to everyone involved. Saving American war birds is a noble endeavor, peace
Outstanding. Having trouble in my head that it is not an XP-102.
yeah its like why 82
THAT is seriously *SLICK!!!* My hat is totally off to this guy and his determination and hard work in reviving a genuine classic! *BRAVO!!!*
Ok, I’m the pilot in command.
No, I’m the pilot in command.
No, I am. I called it.
I get to be the pilot, I was here first.
No you weren’t, I was.
Stop it, give me the stick!
No, it’s mine!
Stop! Let go or I’m going to tell!
You let go. You got to be pilot last time!
I did not. It’s always you. I never get to!
Let go, stop, it’s my turn!
No it’s not. I get to this time.
No way because.....................
haha XD
good ol' brother arguments.
fine paper rock scissors to decide lol
Guess you don't yell 'SPLIT!!!'.
Sadly, after the war and the years following, SO MANY beautiful machines were scrapped out. So very sad. If someone had stuffed a warehouse or hangar full of doomed aircraft, that really would have been something.
My grandfather flew spitfires before the p-51 came into service. He went to Canada and joined the RCAF before America entered the war. One of the only times I can remember seeing a tear on his face was when we were watching a documentary on B-17s. . . I was sitting by my dad and asked him quietly "why is grandad crying?". His reply was chilling, "because son, he remembers escorting them to the limits of his fuel reserves and seeing them attacked by the Germans and not being able to help". . . war is hell on earth.
This plane looks awesome! Can't wait to see a video of this flying!!
to me, these folks are heroes. this type of can-do attitude and willingness to see a complex project through is a major part of what will make America the country it hopes to be.
I might be wrong on this, but from what I've learned the reason the P51s were getting lost flying with the B29s wasn't cruise speed related (The specs I've seen claimed they cruised 300 mph plus) They were getting lost because the length of the flights were very taxing on P51 pilots since they couldn't switch with another pilot, plus it's more demanding flying a fighter compared to a bomber.
The P-51 could cruise in excess of 300mph. But doing so burns more fuel. Its max range at those higher cruising speeds was under 1700 miles with external tanks. So on a 2000 mile round trip bomber escort mission the Mustang didnt have the legs. The Mustangs had to slow to below the B-29's cruising speed if they were to get the range needed to go all the way to Japan and back on the fuel they could carry. As a result they couldn't keep up with the 29's. The duration of these missions also was a problem. These would be 7 hours long or more. That's alot to ask of a single pilot in a cramped cockpit.
I’ve flown for 3 hrs many times in small single seat aircraft can’t imagine 7 hours.
You guys are real geniuses. Pass down as much of this knowledge as possible to people my age bc we're gonna need it and want it. I do now.
Tom's seriously looking for young people like you before his type of knowledge becomes extinct. Give him a call.
Saw it at sun n fun, a truly amazing aircraft ❤️
Glad to see one of my grandfather's planes restored and fly able again. I remember playing on it as a kid.
Thanks for sharing...
I was thrilled to see what a beautiful job you all did on the rebuild. USAF RETIRED C-17 PILOT GIVES YOU ALL A HIGH FIVE
I’m sure it’s more work to maintain but I love that she was kept natural metal and not painted silver.
I usually don't get excited about Rich people and their toys/projects; but when anybody can put a piece of history back into the sky... It makes me smile
Fantastic job.
My heart skipped a beat and I had to wipe away a tear when the engine started!
now you have to make one for everybody!
I didn't bring enough for the whole class. 😖
@@kenolsen1845
We'll wait.
...only in America!! Proud to learn about this gentleman, this plane, and this kind of spirit, and respect for our military heritage.
I"m astounded that the airframe continued to exist. Thank you, Mr. Soplata. Returned to airworthy condition. Flabbergasted.
I do have a critique of the video. Narration or cheesee drama music. Not both at the same time .
Agree...the music is intrusive and unnecessary!
I did not hear music, I did see true beauty, the new video out on this twin flying has great music, both engines running. Good music indeed.
Inspiring - and kudos for treating the seller correctly (as others have said). Thank you for sharing this wonderful story.
Truly a awesome piece of history set to fly and I congratulate you and all those that worked on its restoration. One of the things that I found very interesting in the video was when you said the "mustangs" could not keep up with the 29's. I have a new found respect for the B-29 lol
Maximuspadus well they might have been the mustangs with the Merlin engines : / any WWII aviation fan knows those things were absolute fucking shit
Though then again the B-29 is a VERY late war plane, so they were probably actually the ones with the newer engines. Nvm.
I assume it is a speed-over-long-distance, aka endurance.
I'm with First Last. It probably had something to do with the range. The Mustang had a top speed of over 400 mph, whereas the B-29 topped out at around 330 mph. The Mustang had a huge range for a single engine fighter, but the B-29 could go much farther. I've read that one flew non--stop from Oahu Hawaii to Cairo Egypt, over 9000 miles. This was with only a fuel load though. The normal range was about 3,200 miles, and ferry range was about 5,600 miles. And the Merlin engine in the Mustang is what gave it such great range, though was a little slower that the Allison version.
Just a note, the Allison V-1710 was consistently out-performed by the Merlin in Altitude performance, fuel efficiency, and speed. there is a reason that the V-1710 was dropped like a hot rock from the P-51 program after the A-36 and P-51A. in fact the performance jump offered led a number of proposals to re-engine planes using the V-1710, with Packard V-1650s (Merlins). Examples: the P-40F/L, the P-60D (a proposed P-40 replacement), one of the three XP-63s, and there are some references to a proposal for a Merlin powered lightning as well. most of these variants were limited or passed over because of factors having little to nothing to do with engine performance (All of them exceeded the performance their Allison engine brothers)
Man has it come a long way. I remember Tom showing me the new fuselage longerons and getting the monthly updates. Well done Yo the crew and Toms.
The 156 people who disliked this video have no soul whatsoever!
Got to see the XP-82 at Valiant Air Command War Bird Museum in Titusville, FL. Such an amazing plane to see up close and made sure to take photos of it while I was there.
Sweet plane.
1:57 i know this is about the XP-82 but seeing race 74 in the backround put tears in my eyes
They already had a twin engine fighter in the P-38 lighting. cruising speed is 350mph.
The P-38 and the standard P-51 didnt have the range to escort the B-29. The P-38's range was 1300 miles allowing for combat time. Or a little under 1800 miles for a ferry. Also the P-38's cruising speed was 275mph not 350mph. The P-82 could also carry two pilots to share the flying on a 7 or 8 hour escort mission. But the war against Japan ended before any were built. So the P-82 replaced the P-61 as the primary night fighter of the US Air Force. The second pilot was replaced with a Radar Officer.
Amazing. Can't even comprehend the insane amount of work that goes into this masterpiece. Who on Earth votes this down!?