“Dixie Boy” P-51 Mustang

he American Aero Services four year restoration of Selby Burch’s Dixie Boy, is judged Grand Champion World War II at Sun N Fun and Best Mustang at E.A.A.s Air Venture in 2010.

The Mustang arrived by truck at the American Aero Services facility as a complete project in July of 2005 and made it’s first test flight on November 6, 2009, with Eliot Cross doing the test flights.

“Literally every part of the aircraft had to be reconstructed,” Selby explained in discussing the award, “many of the parts were simply unsalvageable and had to be recreated. I came to American Aero because I knew they had the expertise and experience to do the job right. This award is proof that we made the right choice!”

E.A.A. Warbirds Dixie Boy makes the cover of the April 2011

N.A.A. P-51D Mustang “Dixie Boy” N5444V N5444V sat on the ramp in San Jose, Ca. for years before being sent to Houston Tx. where Selby Burch found and acquired the Mustang

The Beginning The Mustang project is picked up in Houston, Texas by Les Chapman and transported to American Aero Services facility in New Smyrna Beach, Florida

Picking up the project

Fuselage forward section

Aft of the firewall

Trim pedestal and throttle quadrant

Wing disassembly Once the wing was placed in the fixture it was disassembled for restoration

Wing hard points

Yes, even Selby helped Under the close supervision of Steve, Linda and Tom the Mustangs owner Selby Burch de-burred holes

Wingtip extensions

Restored wheel wells

Prep for fuel cell install

Fitting gear doors

Installation of fuel cells

New stress doors

Flight controls Along with the fuselage and wing all of the flight controls were fabricated in American Aeros fixtures

Flight controls Along with the fuselage and wing all of the flight controls were fabricated in American Aeros fixtures

Fuselage teardown and rebuild

Fuselage reskinning

Tailcone rebuild

Fuselage rebuild

New Fuselage Bulkheads

Doghouse rebuild The doghouse was rebuilt in house while the fuselage was being rebuilt

Fitting the doghouse

Doghouse & scoop

Wing painted & ready for mating

Mating wing & fuselage

Mated overhead shot Dixie Boy is sitting in the back of the hangar

Fuselage paint with Selby

Paint and Markings

Fitting clam shell doors

Gear door swings Linda watching the fit of the gear doors after trimming.

Cowl fabrication

Fairings Steve, Linda and Tom fabricated new fairings for the wing to fuselage along with the tail fairings

Engine Inspection & Run-ups As the American Aero project progressed to the first flight, Glenn Wegman came up and preformed the initial engine inspections and runs

Weight & balance

Dixie Boy & a Space Shuttle Only in Florida did you have a chance to get a photo of the launch of a shuttle with a P-51

Dixie Boys First Flight Post restoration fight is performed by Eliot Cross

Post test flight

Post test flight Pictured from left to right, Linda Tam (Sheetmetal & Structures), Steve Marquise (Sheetmetal, Structures & Systems), Tom Walker (Sheetmetal, Structures & Systems), Selby Burch (Owner) and Elliot Cross (Test Pilot)

Dixie Boys first show Dixie Boys first public showing was at Sun-n -Fun in Florida

Polishing at Sun-n-Fun Tom and Linda polished the fuselage in preparation for judging in the World War II Fighter category

Dixie Boy’s opened for judging

Dixie Boy’s first award Dixie Boy took home the award for World War II Grand Champion after a four year rebuild of the Mustang from an outstanding crew and devoted owner Selby Burch