New Mustang for Flying Bulls

The Flying Bulls, owned by the Austrian Red Bull company, have added another warbird to their already impressive the aircraft collection.

The Bulls announced on 6 March that they have acquired North American P-51D 44-74427 F-AZSB (construction number 122-409676). This Mustang flies in the colours of the P-51D 44-74622 “Nooky Booky IV” with code "GA-C" as was flown by Major Leonard “Kit” Carson, top ace of the 357th Fighter Group with 18.5 confirmed victories.

The Mustang concerned was originally flown by the RCAF with serial 9592. It was taken of strength in 1958 and soon sold to the USA as N9148R. Two years later it was converted into a Cavalier Executive Mustang and registered as N2251D.

It was bought by North American Rockwell and flown by the famous Bob Hoover. N2251D crash-landed in 1965 and was badly damaged in an explosion in 1970. It was immediately rebuilt on both occasions.

After a number of consecutive owners the Mustang received the livery of 44-74622 “Nooky Booky IV” in 1994. The fighter was sold to Christophe Jacquard/JCB Aviation in France in 1998. Two years later Nooky was registered in France as F-AZSB and sold to Christian Amara.

It was flown for France Flying Warbirds of Melun-Villaroche and, more recently, for the SDPA - Société de Développement et de Promotion de l'Aviation at La Ferté Alais. With Nooky gone, the sole remaining F- registered Mustang has left the country, which surely will be very disappointing for our French friends.

Photos: Gert Jan Mentink