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I once rode past the airport at Borrego Springs, CA, and noticed a really clean P-51 parked next to the airport cafe with the canopy slid back. Fifteen minutes later my VFR was doing 90+ westbound on the long straight through Ranchita when I heard a suspicious rumble that
was quickly growing louder. I looked in my mirrors, found nothing, and then looked up and to my left.
There was the same P-51; throttled back, flaps down, maybe 150' up, staying just even with me while the pilot gave me a thumbs up. I couldn't help myself: I twisted the bike WFO and took off.
The pilot pulled up his flaps and poured the power to the Merlin, which spurted a quick puff of black smoke and roared like a dragon on
steroids. In about ten seconds he was doing 300+ and still accelerating as he disappeared into the distance; still only about 200' above the terrain. Must have been quite a ride.
was quickly growing louder. I looked in my mirrors, found nothing, and then looked up and to my left.
There was the same P-51; throttled back, flaps down, maybe 150' up, staying just even with me while the pilot gave me a thumbs up. I couldn't help myself: I twisted the bike WFO and took off.
The pilot pulled up his flaps and poured the power to the Merlin, which spurted a quick puff of black smoke and roared like a dragon on
steroids. In about ten seconds he was doing 300+ and still accelerating as he disappeared into the distance; still only about 200' above the terrain. Must have been quite a ride.
