The Cavalier Mustang was a post- World War II civilian-modified version of the North American P-51 Mustang aircraft. Although originally intended as a high speed personal aircraft, the Cavalier was also exported for use as a fighter and close air support aircraft to third-world air forces.
27-653: In 1957, newspaper publisher David Lindsay (1922–2009) founded Trans Florida Aviation Inc . His intention was to transform surplus military P-51s into executive business aircraft. These aircraft were initially called the Trans-Florida Executive Mustang, soon renamed the Trans Florida Aviation Cavalier Mustang. The first of the Executive Mustangs was built in 1958 and for the next few years, only
54-555: A Rolls-Royce Dart 510 turboprop to a Mustang II airframe. This privately funded prototype was also intended for the same CAS/COIN mission that the Mustang II was built for. The Turbo Mustang III had radically increased performance, along with an associated increase in payload and decrease in cost of maintenance due to the turbine engine. Despite numerous sales presentations to the United States Air Force , neither
81-411: A U.S. State Department restriction on their combat radius. In 1968, Cavalier mated a Rolls-Royce Dart 510 turboprop to a Mustang II airframe. This privately funded prototype was also intended for the same CAS/COIN mission that the Mustang II was built for. The Turbo Mustang III had radically increased performance, along with an associated increase in payload and decrease in cost of maintenance due to
108-698: A 14-inch (360 mm) taller vertical stabilizer. Between 1964 and 1965, Trans Florida completed an IRAN inspection of over 30 F-51Ds of the Dominican Air Force (FAD) in Sarasota. In 1967 the company was renamed Cavalier Aircraft Corporation . In 1967, a decade after creating their first civilian P-51 conversion, Trans Florida was contracted by the United States Department of Defense to create military specification F-51Ds for export. These military aircraft incorporated most of
135-481: A USAF Cavalier Mustang II contract, called "Peace Pony", for Indonesia. Many of the civil Mustang conversions, as well as many re-imported former military Cavaliers, have been restored into P-51Ds and fly on the U.S. and European air show circuits today. General characteristics Performance Armament Related development Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era Related lists Cavalier Aircraft Cavalier Aircraft Corporation
162-477: A handful of airframes were built and sold. To construct the Executive Mustang, Trans Florida purchased military surplus P-51s. The airframes were completely disassembled, the military equipment stripped out, and then rebuilt with a second seat, new avionics, plush leather interiors, luggage bays, and civilian paint schemes. By 1961, the tip-tank equipped aircraft were renamed Cavalier 2000, referring to
189-458: A second seat, new avionics, plush leather interiors, luggage bays, and civilian paint schemes. By 1961, the tip-tank equipped aircraft were renamed Cavalier 2000, referring to the 2,000-statute-mile (3,200 km) range. Five different Cavalier models were eventually offered: the Cavalier 750, 1200, 1500, 2000, and 2500, differing in fuel capacity, with the name indicating the approximate range of
216-549: A similar U.S. Military Assistance Program, called Peace Pony, in 1971 by Field Services, Inc. In 1968, Cavalier owner/founder David Lindsay began developing a highly modified version of the Cavalier Mustang ll for use as a counterinsurgency aircraft called the Enforcer . Powered by a Rolls-Royce Dart and later a Lycoming YT-55-9 turboprop of 2,300 hp (1,700 kW), the aircraft had impressive performance and
243-665: The Dominican Air Force (FAD) in Sarasota. In 1967 the company was renamed Cavalier Aircraft Corporation . In 1967, a decade after creating their first civilian P-51 conversion, Trans Florida was contracted by the United States Department of Defense to create military specification F-51Ds for export. These military aircraft incorporated most of the improved features of the civilian Cavaliers but were optimized as ground attack fighters . These aircraft were called Cavalier F-51D Mustangs; nine single control (F-51D) and two dual-control (TF-51D) aircraft were built. The aircraft were given new 67-XXXXX and 68-XXXXX serial numbers. Nine (including
270-518: The North American P-51 Mustang aircraft. Although originally intended as a high speed personal aircraft, the Cavalier was also exported for use as a fighter and close air support aircraft to third-world air forces. In 1957, newspaper publisher David Lindsay (1922–2009) founded Trans Florida Aviation Inc . His intention was to transform surplus military P-51s into executive business aircraft. These aircraft were initially called
297-964: The United States Army for use as chase aircraft , one of which is preserved at the Air Force Armament Museum at Eglin Air Force Base , Florida. In 1967, Cavalier developed an outgrowth of the F-51D designed for close air support and counter-insurgency operations, calling this aircraft the Cavalier Mustang II. The Mustang II had improved avionics, structural improvements to the wing to allow more external weapons carriage on four additional hardpoints, and an improved Rolls-Royce Merlin V-1650-724A engine. Two batches of Mustang IIs were constructed:
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#1732797888803324-617: The 2,000-statute-mile (3,200 km) range. Five different Cavalier models were eventually offered: the Cavalier 750, 1200, 1500, 2000, and 2500, differing in fuel capacity, with the name indicating the approximate range of the aircraft in sm. Over the course of the next decade, nearly 20 of these aircraft would be constructed. Several FAA approved modifications to the Cavalier design would be made during that time, including canopy frame mounted cockpit fresh air vents, 96-US-gallon (360 L; 80 imp gal) wingtip fuel tanks, fuselage baggage door, 60 gallon ammo/gun bay fuel tanks, autopilot and
351-906: The Air Force contracted with Cavalier to create military-capable Cavalier Mustangs that would be provided to friendly countries as part of the U.S. Military Assistance Program. These aircraft were called the Cavalier F-51D Mustang , and the Cavalier TF-51D Mustang . Cavaliers of these types were supplied between 1967 and 1969, via the Air Force, to Bolivia, and directly to El Salvador, with spare parts and maintenance assistance also provided to Guatemala. Modifications varied, but included: vertical fin extension of 14 inches (36 cm), addition wing hard points, avionics upgrades, increased engine power, and wing tip tanks. Cavaliers were also constructed for Indonesia as part of
378-633: The Cavalier Mustang II. The Mustang II had improved avionics, structural improvements to the wing to allow more external weapons carriage on four additional hardpoints, and an improved Rolls-Royce Merlin V-1650-724A engine. Two batches of Mustang IIs were constructed: the first group was built for El Salvador in 1968 and the second group was constructed for export to Indonesia in 1972 and 1973. The five Mustang IIs (including one TF-51D) built for El Salvador featured wingtip fuel tanks to increase combat range. Five Mustang IIs and one TF-51D were built for Indonesia in 1972, but they did not have tip tanks due to
405-588: The Enforcer concept with Piper Aircraft into the PA-48 Enforcer. Many of the civilian Cavalier conversions are still flying today. Several of the military Cavaliers have been re-imported to the US. Most have been restored to appear as WW II or Korean era P-51s, but retain many of their Cavalier improvements. Cavalier Mustang The Cavalier Mustang was a post- World War II civilian-modified version of
432-672: The Mustang, North American Aviation, purchased two Cavaliers for famed test pilot R.A. "Bob" Hoover , one in 1962 and the other in 1971 to use to promote the NAA name at airshows. In 1967 the company was renamed Cavalier Aircraft Corporation due to the strong product identity of the Cavalier Mustang. In 1965 the company was contracted in by the government of the Dominican Republic, with US State Dept. approval, to inspect and perform necessary repairs to 36 aircraft in Sarasota. In 1967
459-414: The Trans-Florida Executive Mustang, soon renamed the Trans Florida Aviation Cavalier Mustang. The first of the Executive Mustangs was built in 1958 and for the next few years, only a handful of airframes were built and sold. To construct the Executive Mustang, Trans Florida purchased military surplus P-51s. The airframes were completely disassembled, the military equipment stripped out, and then rebuilt with
486-624: The U.S. military nor any foreign operators purchased the Turbo Mustang III. Seeking a company with mass production capability, the Turbo Mustang project, now called "The Enforcer," was sold by Lindsay to Piper Aircraft in 1971. Cavalier Aircraft Corp. was closed in 1971 so the founder/owner, David Lindsay, could help develop the Piper PA-48 Enforcer . Lindsay set up a new company, Field Services Inc., to complete
513-533: The aircraft in sm. Over the course of the next decade, nearly 20 of these aircraft would be constructed. Several FAA approved modifications to the Cavalier design would be made during that time, including canopy frame mounted cockpit fresh air vents, 96-US-gallon (360 L; 80 imp gal) wingtip fuel tanks, fuselage baggage door, 60 gallon ammo/gun bay fuel tanks, autopilot and a 14-inch (360 mm) taller vertical stabilizer. Between 1964 and 1965, Trans Florida completed an IRAN inspection of over 30 F-51Ds of
540-456: The aircraft were renamed Cavalier Mustangs and were produced in several different versions: Cavalier 750, 1500, and 2000 (the numbers indicating the approximate range of the aircraft in statute miles). Trans Florida marketed and sold these aircraft, trained the new owners to fly them, and maintained them for customers after purchase. Lindsay also accumulated an immense stockpile of P-51 spare parts and sold these to Mustang owners worldwide. Many of
567-446: The first group was built for El Salvador in 1968 and the second group was constructed for export to Indonesia in 1972 and 1973. The five Mustang IIs (including one TF-51D) built for El Salvador featured wingtip fuel tanks to increase combat range. Five Mustang IIs and one TF-51D were built for Indonesia in 1972, but they did not have tip tanks due to a U.S. State Department restriction on their combat radius. In 1968, Cavalier mated
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#1732797888803594-423: The improved features of the civilian Cavaliers but were optimized as ground attack fighters . These aircraft were called Cavalier F-51D Mustangs; nine single control (F-51D) and two dual-control (TF-51D) aircraft were built. The aircraft were given new 67-XXXXX and 68-XXXXX serial numbers. Nine (including the two TF-51s) were given to Bolivia , under a program called Peace Condor and two, with tip tanks, were sold to
621-475: The spares and entire aircraft were purchased from scrap dealers intending to melt them down. Lindsay also developed and received FAA approval for several improvements to the P-51D including: avionics, autopilot, baggage door, fresh air system, rear passenger seat, additional wing bladder tanks, high pressure oxygen system, and wingtip tanks of 110 US gallons (420 L; 92 imp gal). The original builder of
648-431: The turbine engine. Despite numerous sales presentations to the United States Air Force , neither the U.S. military nor any foreign operators purchased the Turbo Mustang III. Seeking a company with mass production capability, the Turbo Mustang project, now called "The Enforcer," was sold by Lindsay to Piper Aircraft in 1971. Cavalier Aircraft Corp. was closed in 1971 so the founder/owner, David Lindsay, could help develop
675-413: The two TF-51s) were given to Bolivia , under a program called Peace Condor and two, with tip tanks, were sold to the United States Army for use as chase aircraft , one of which is preserved at the Air Force Armament Museum at Eglin Air Force Base , Florida. In 1967, Cavalier developed an outgrowth of the F-51D designed for close air support and counter-insurgency operations, calling this aircraft
702-447: Was a Sarasota, Florida, aircraft manufacturing, sales, and maintenance company whose most famous products were refurbished P-51D Mustangs known as " Cavalier Mustangs ." The company was originally formed in 1957 by Florida newspaperman David Lindsay (1922–2009) and named Trans Florida Aviation . Trans Florida specialized in modifying surplus North American P-51 Mustangs into plush business aircraft called Executive Mustangs . Later,
729-417: Was equipped with Bristol ceramic armour to protect the engine, airframe, and pilot. Despite Cavalier's best efforts, they were unable to secure a government purchase of the aircraft. Due to the limited manufacturing capabilities of Cavalier Aircraft Corporation, Lindsay sold the Enforcer project to Piper in late 1970. Cavalier was closed in 1971 so the founder/owner, David Lindsay, could help continue develop
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