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P-51 Who?   Case # 205
44-84961     N7715C     Closed
Solved by: Scheil, Kerr, Pfaendler, McMillin
P-51 Who 205
Case#: 205
Date: Oct 01 2002
By: Emil Strasser
Photo: via WarbirdAeroPress.com
Status: Closed
Serial: 44-84961
Registry: N7715C
P-51 Who? Viewer Responses
Joseph Scheil
10/13/2002 22:11
Photo taken at Reno Sept 1966, with N332 the Maytag Mustang behind.... Built 25 June, 1945 in Dallas, Texas 44-84961 was delivered to Kelly Field Texas with the AMC. To California ANG in 1947, then WYO ANG, and ILL ang with a between stay with the USAF. Sold surplus 2.58 for $1,701 and with 1,221.15 airframe time. Registered N7715C. Eventually totally owned by Chuck Hall "Miss RJ" became a Reno winner. Sold to Gunther Balz and Named the "Roto Finish Special" she won again, and sold and renamed "Red Baron", she became a Legend. Conversion to Griffon power, the first Mustang to do so, eventually placed this one Mustang at the pinnacle of Mustang development. Setting the World Air Speed record 12 August 1979 placed N7715C into the Record books forever. Lost at Reno 1979 one month later, Steve Hinton unbelieveably survived a horrific crash. The original 961 was no more. With time, many parts and money, Steve Hinton rebuilt a new N7715C and flies out of Chino CA. And best of all my first Mustang ride was in this airplane. Its interesting to me that even today, pictures and T-shirts of the Red Baron are getting more and more common. And who knows, maybe even the Griffon Baron' will return one day...
John Kerr
10/14/2002 10:44
# 5 is a P-51D, N7715C, the lst acft to have this n number, 44-84961. Believe this photo taken at Reno in 1966 when the aircraft was owned by Charles Hall. Aircraft later owned by Gunther Balz (71-73), John Sliker (73-74), and Ed Browning (74-79) After this photo aircraft went on to become Miss RJ, Roto Finish, and the Red Baron. It crashed as the Red Baron on 9-16-79 at Reno. ID of aircraft has been transferred to second N7715C, named Wee Willey II. Reports circulate that the original aircraft is being rebuilt.
Eric Pfaendler
10/27/2002 05:11
N7715C is the mustang that eventually became Miss RJ, then Roto Finish and finally the mighty Red Baron. This picture is from the Reno Air Races in 1966 when the plane was owned and flown by Chuck Hall.
The planes racing history:

1966 Reno Air Races qualified 10th at 283.770 and finished consolation race in 5th at 304.990
1967 Reno Air Races qualified 5th at 373.471 and finished championship race 4th at 363.071
1968 Reno Air Races qualified 1st at 379.650 and finished championship race 2nd at 386.852
1969 Reno Air Races DNQ but allowed to race finished championship 2nd at 377.234
1970 Reno Air Races DNQ
1970 California 1000 finished 17th out on lap 20 blown engine
1971 Reno Air Races qualified 1st at 419.501 and finished 4th in championship race at 412.101
1972 Reno Air Races qualified 4th at 393.750 and finished 1st in the championship race at 416.160
1973 Reno Air Races qualified 4th at 410.232 and finished 3rd in the championship race at 407.495
1973 Mojave Air Races qualified 5th at 361.321 and finished 4th in the championship race at 348.483
1974 Reno Air Races qualified 3rd at 417.330 and finished 7th in championship race DNF out lap 2 blown engine
1974 Mojave Air Races qualified 3rd at 389.859 and finished 1st in the championship race at 382.207
1975 Mojave Air Races qualified 3rd at 401.52 and finished 8th in championship race DNF canopy problems
1975 Reno Air Races qualified 6th at 407.390 and finished 2nd in the championship race at 427.313
1976 Mojave Air Races qualified 1st at 416.269 and finished 1st in gold race at 406.718
1976 Reno Air Races qualified 3rd at 436.094 and finished 7th in the championship race DNF
1977 Reno Air Races qualified 4th at 385.153 and finished 1st in the championship race at430.703
1978 Reno Air Races qualified 1st at 427.15 and finished 1st in the championship race at 415.457
1978 Mojave Air Races qualified at 408 and finished 1st in the gold race at 371.28
1979 Homestead Florida Air Races qualified 1st at 395 and finished 1st in the gold race at 384.791
1979 Mojave Air Races qualified at 408.815 and finished 1st in the gold race at 396.181
1979 Tonopah NV World Propeller Driven Speed Record 499.018
1979 Reno Air Races qualified 441.90 and finished 2nd in the championship race at 415.967 destroyed in crash while mayday after race

44-84961
1958 N7715C Capitol Airways, Nashville TN
1964 Charles F Willis Jr & Frank Lynott & Charles Hall, Seattle WA
1967 Charles Hall, Seattle WA
1971 Gunther W Balz, Kalamazoo MI
1973 John M Sliker, Wadley GA
1974 Brownings Inc, Idaho Falls ID
1979-84 Fighter Rebuilders, Chino CA rebuilt using major components from ex TNI-AU Cavalier
1984 Steven J Hinton, Chino CA
Chris McMillin
11/03/2002 13:25
Is this N7715C of Chuck Hall at Reno 1966? I believe he bought it from Jesse Stallings of Capitol Airlines.
Case Closed!
P-51 Mustang

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