North American P-51C Mustang - Part 1 - Kermie Cam

You Are There! We've posted a couple of Kermie Cam videos with planes from the early days of flight, thought it would be nice to jump ahead in time and fly something from the WWII period. Step into the cockpit of a P-51C Mustang with me and go over the pre-flight check list. Get a first hand glimpse of what it is like to sit at the controls of this magnificent machine, and prepare to fly it. In parts one and two, you'll see my pre-flight preparation. Then in part three, we'll take to the skies. - Kermit Weeks (20120928)
Watch the Kermie Cam of the P-51D model Mustang...
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[@TR5T]

My dad flew out of Iwo Jima, he absolutely loved his D, named it after my mom. When he died we discovered his log book, many many sorte's over Japan mainland and perimeter security over the island. This plane has a special place in my heart.

[@KermitWeeks444]

Thanks for sharing. And thanks to your dad for his service.

[@relix5910]

Was it this exact plane im wondering cause it has a womans name on it

[@josh05683]

@@relix5910 This is a C not a D

[@kingcamilo]

@@josh05683 maybe his dad flew a "D"

[@Mike-01234]

Your father had guts because bailing out over Japan was bad news most didn't return lot of pilots were killed by towns people unlike the Germans who put them in POW camps. Not lot of good documentaries on WW2 fighter pilots over Japan.

[@45631063]

Excellente vidéo du P51Mustang!

[@OldSkoolWax]

One of the most beautiful fighters ever built along with the Spitfire and Fw190.

[@jimbo1959]

I love the " Tuskeegee Airmen " movie! Amazing how important, and skillful these Pilots were!

[@choward874]

Your a very fortunate man to get to own and fly one of those masterpieces of aviation history!

[@servicarrider]

That just might be the most beautiful aircraft ever built. You explain everything so nicely. That's very important to most of us.

[@northwestprof60]

If the Mustang had stopped at this level and never gone to the D, you would have never heard crap about the plane. The C was a good, decent plane; the D was another level altogether

[@Bear-nu8xm]

This is my all time favorite plane ! As a child , in my grandparents back yard around the pool, their freind had a Mustang and he would fly by and shake his wings at us .

[@frankcastle5294]

These Mustangs must have one hell of a battery array in them. It is running pumps....instrumentation....heaters...before even being asked to spin over this huge hunk of engine with 12 massive pistons and crank and compression. Incredible.

[@backwoodsbully9841]

Love the outline of that plane when the landing gear is up. Beautiful.

[@WorivpuqloDMogh]

What a lovely machine. Also amazing that its a red tail. I really respect these soldiers

[@jeniko2841]

I would have a huge smile on my face from just sitting in that thing. That is a beautiful plane!

[@12345fowler]

The metal finish is astounding. Beatiful.

[@dapro2848]

I bet it never gets old stepping into this thing.

[@rchydrozz751]

I love these. With all the necessary fiddling around in the cockpit before takeoff. I cant imagine doing that in a hurry, while the enemy is flying over and strafing you.

[@JEDAYOB]

航空機好きの私が、このコクピット内を見ただけで、すごく感動して鳥肌が立ちそう。 日本人として、その昔に・・このコクピットの中で我が国の零戦と闘う命の駆け引きをしていたのかと思うと、更に感動しました。

[@thomasfleig1184]

The mustang is my favorite prop plane of all time. It is a thing of beauty to look at, and is bad ass in the air.

[@hubertmatos5920]

I believe is the most succesful war plane in the history of the US Air Force...

[@NeillWylie]

I'd be scared to touch that thing in case I left a smudge. It's gorgeous!

[@luisestela7947]

Por fa. En español lokue kuieres

[@charlesbennett6773]

Such a pristine cockpit and aircraft. Showroom quality.

[@chrisdelagarza8048]

I love the fact that this one is a Tuskegee airmen mustang.

[@PassportBrosBusinessClass]

Thanks for the explanation about the fuel tank selection switch.

[@joshstanton267]

holy shit i got the chills as you climbed in with go pro on.. climbing into a sacred piece of history..

[@beboboymann3823]

Thank you Mr. Weeks for this wonderful post. We visited your fabulous museum a few years back while vacationing in Orlando and I had a friend tell me your facility was a must see. I have thanked him many times for turning me on to your facility. I was mesmerized by it and learned so much. I was sad to hear though that you closed it to public tours. I really would like to experience it again for that's what it was for me....an experience. In the meantime I hope you post more of these informative videos. Thank you again for what you have contributed to the education of us regular folks in the glory of these marvelous machines.

[@dntlss]

Kermit, a few years ago my sister took me to your facility in Polk for my birthday,as a huge WW2 airplane lunatic i felt like i had died and gone to heaven,thank you for taking such good care of these airplanes, you are truly envied in a good way, hope you and your family are doing well these days.

[@GlassTopRX7]

There are a lot of tourist traps between Orlando and Tampa, this is NOT one them.

[@hardwarewizard2083]

thank you dcs for teaching me every bit of this plane

[@shauncookphotography]

Thank you for posting this video! It always amazes me to see how each P-51 is different! Plus these planes are still somewhat rare to see.

[@jameshambrook1581]

love the British Spitfire and with the resources the US had during the war, this super updated mustang version is the most exciting plane built ever. Beautiful.

[@jameshambrook1581]

i am not suggesting the mustang is a spitfire, before you guys ride me :) . i have the racing at Reno on my bucket list, if they haven't banned it by then. I am lucky to live on the Kent Coast and in the summer hear that merlin engine as Spitfires fly to the Shows along the Kent Coast. Not that many left now. "Never so much owed by so many to so few"

[@MichaelSmith-jw8qw]

awesome plane, wish we were still using it--it was such a great design and beautiful to look at

[@tahoeturk]

Really like that this aircraft honors the Tuskegee Airmen. I got to go up in a P-51 once and it was a total kick...and an honor.

[@aplato8576]

Hay, Kermie, that Fisheye lens makes the nose of that Mustang look like a Spitfire with stainless steel skin... One hell of a lot of love and devotion went in to that machine...kudos.

[@IAW_OPSEC]

“Whistles” that’s one big stick sir. Thank you for showing us this

[@HDdyna2008]

Nice what a gorgeous plane. I would really enjoy owning one of these classic birds

[@Tom-ye5dn]

Rocking the sneans and flying a mustang. No-one is having more fun than this guy!

[@trxxxtr]

hands down my favorite US plane ever! My Grandfather flew one in the war and bought one in the 70s that I was lucky enough to fly. This is a beautiful plane indeed.... thanx for the upload.

[@luissilva-co9xg]

Yes baby, german thecnology

[@americanpatriot3667]

trxxxtr same here love their bird probably the best looking out of any plane

[@irish89055]

I think I saw Mustangs in the mid-seventies going for a hundred thousand back on trade a plane

[@robertdore9592]

In the 'Prop age' I'd agree, but Jet wise, F-4 Phantom, F-104 Starfighter and A-10 Warthog.

[@darthmal]

OMG. Reminds me of the pre-check I had to do when I drove a school bus. This was AWESOME!

[@MarsFKA]

Heheh. I hope you checked the trim tabs and governor pressure and made sure that the gun ports were clear. That must have been the Mother of all school routes that you drove...

[@chrisnguyen3647]

I appreciate you making these video. Can't wait to fly one soon.

[@derricklanders7260]

...and too see the irony of him taking a "Red Tail" up into the air is not lost on me! It was once thought by sooo many that Black Americans couldn't handle machines like this, so to see the cockpit, the instrumentation, start-up process, etc...is a testimonial to those gentlemen and how much their success meant to our community!

[@OslerWannabe]

There was considerable irony in the American performance in the war. We accept the adulation of the western world for having saved it from fascism, and if it's not forthcomiing, we are not shy about reminding the world of what they owe us. However, if Japan hadn't forced the issue, it's debatable whether we would have ever participated at all. It took us most of the war to realize that barring African American citizens from flying was self-destructive. They proved MORE than the equal of the white pilots. The ultimate irony though is that we ostensibly fought to defeat fascism, but we rolled over and allowed the fascist elements in our own country to convince us that the BEST ethnic group of American citizens couldn't be trusted, and put them into concentration camps, without ever showing that a single Japanese American was disloyal. A great number of them fought for America, and their families and descendants, to this day betray no sense that they feel betrayed. I grew up in a community which was largely Japanese American, and they were, and are, by far the best Americans I've ever known. The pathetic reparations that were paid decades after the atrocity were only a testimony to what a shit culture white America, MY culture, really is. We have so much to be ashamed of, like accepting, without a fight the appointment of the fascist tRump as President by the Russian dictator. We won't fight back, so we are nothing more than a Russian satellite now. Our democracy is very nearly irretrievably injured, and honestly, good riddance. Killed by white trash.

[@dawievanemmenes1124]

Spotless airplane. Absolutely beautiful condition.

[@xXrandomryzeXx]

The cockpit is so beautiful and the plane is too. Man that has to be a joy to fly.

[@joshuaabrahamseverino4260]

Ese avión me encanta. Soy piloto y fui oficial de la Fuerza Aérea de la República Dominicana, y cuando ingresé a esa institución, uno de los primeros aviones que me sorprendió, fue el P-51. Una potencia increíble y lo maniobrable que era. Espero algún día volver a volarlo.

[@tymotoboy53]

Such an awesome video showing people how to do a proper start up as well

[@christopherwalker6056]

This is an awesome aircraft. I think even today this is still the fastest prop plane out there, with a top speed of 437 mph. My grandfather, William Walker flew this in WWII in the European theater when he was in the US Army Air Corps. He has told me of a few dog fights he was in against some pretty skilled German pilots. I think he was only 21 back then. He passed away here a couple of years ago at the age of 91. God bless all of those brave pilots as well as all of the veterans of late and today. Thank you for this great video!

[@JediLivesMatter2]

God bless your Grandfather, and all his service in the Army Air Corp.

[@ibXCVs-Mom]

P-51D 436 mph, P-47D Thunderbolt 428 mph, P-47M 473 mph, P-47N (served in Pacific and with Mustangs escorted B-29's on bombing missions to Japan) 467 mph, F4U-4 Corsair 448 mph. All served in WWII. P-51H 487 mph (post war). In August 1944 a test bed P-47 "razorback" with the upgraded engine destined for the P-47M and an upgraded GE turbo supercharger recorded a top of 504 MPH. The plane was nicknamed the "Superbolt" and had a cartoon drawing of Superman on the cowling. This was fastest speed for a piston powered airplane until several decades later it was broken by an F8F Bearcat heavily modified for racing.

[@crashburn3292]

Christopher - Today's P-51's fly way faster than 437mph. The modified race plane "Voodoo" which races at the Reno Air Races flew at 550+ mph while trying to set a speed record. I don't recall if they set the record or not. I knew a pilot WWII and Korean war vet who flew the P-51 in combat. He said if he had the choice of any plane at the time, he said he'd take the P-47 Thunderbolt. He said it was almost as fast as the 51, and could take A LOT more punishment. That it could take a lot of damage and still get you home.

[@crashburn3292]

There is a modified Bearcat that won at Reno for many years. "Rare Bear" For a few years it dominated the Reno Air Races. The plane is a beast. It's got a massive radial engine in it and 4 huge oversized propellers taken off a C-130 Cargo plane. Here's a video of it taking off. kzbin.info/www/bejne/bHS0faN4rqaVpNU

[@pigskin1000]

@@ibXCVs-Mom cool.. tx

[@45631063]

Hello video very well explained super detailed! Congratulations on all this information about the North American P-51C Mustang! Than you very much!

[@WisdomVendor1]

That's not a plane, that's a work of pure aerodynamic art.

[@douglasfreeman3229]

Too right!

[@allandavis8201]

It just so happens that I am building a 1/32 scale mustang model kit at the moment, and whilst google has some good pictures of the cockpit interior they aren’t that much use to me as I am building it as close to original as possible. I can see that some of your equipment is additional, probably due to FAA and insurance requirements, but on the whole it has been a big help seeing the inside of such a wonderful and well maintained example of such an iconic WWII fighter aircraft. Thanks for sharing this excellent and informative video with all of us. 👍👍👍👍👍😃

[@probablynotabigtoe9407]

Tucked in Polo Shirt, White New Balance shoes... Dad Mode has been Engaged

[@irish89055]

Slob look disengaged...

[@mikes4x4garage]

And a Rolex...

[@thumpin250]

Is your name derived from the GI joe spoof shorts?

[@deandalapanda]

lol New Balance- the new shoe now sponsored by the US AF---- New balance, whether you are in the ground riding the streets of LA in your corvette... or flying that P51 Mustang into combat.. New Balance has your back, Jack

[@lancelotkillz]

Serial killer

[@ShamblerDK]

That video made me very moist. I once sat in the P51 called Old Crow. To sit in something with that kind of history attached, gives you goosebumps.

[@phillipicus7446]

he didnt check the M2/AN Browning machine guns in case of Luftwaffe

[@jejai117]

@ fvck u bitch

[@Make-Asylums-Great-Again]

Fai Muse what’s up with your response? What are you 15? Have fun on KZbin little fella.

[@tntfreddan3138]

Nah. British Hispanos tend to do a better job against that.

[@diwi1967]

@Podge SHEIZE!!!

[@za0za0648]

@Ryan Roberts Uh, that's actually stupid, the Luftwaffe, or the germans weren't even communist, that's just absurd.

[@henderstech]

So much knowledge it takes to fly like this wow!

[@BcstEngineer]

Beautifully restored aircraft! You did a great job taking us through a detailed pre-flight and flight through landing. No check list but following a well polished routine. Very well done sir. (USAF 69-73 Aircraft Electronic Navigation Equipment Repairman)

[@ivadenuff7848]

I was getting nervous watching it come out of the trailer.Thank you so much for these videos . From the uk

[@friscokid66]

I was obsessed with WWII planes as a kid, and Mustang was one of my favorites. Your plane is gorgeous inside and out. Even those instruments are so handsome!

[@xistsixt]

I've been too. I still am 😁

[@Corkfish1]

One of the most beautiful aircraft ever built. The thing borders on a work of art

[@richarddavenport9708]

It is my favorite!

[@doodskie999]

Searched 2019 mustang, ended up in this vid, Im not even mad

[@Packle.]

Why would you be mad in the first place?

[@rogerkittner1193]

What a beautiful piece of machinery

[@dodgewrench7221]

You drive a mustang? Oh thats cute, I fly a mustang

[@jxmint4458]

Lol

[@rungcox4823]

Dodge Wrench lmao

[@KM-xn5kj]

I swear i thought this was a car video lml

[@atichatiplaeman3001]

.

[@Sh8rk1]

I fly a C560...is that enough...without the sound?

[@halffull9527]

Beautiful, sleek, fast. Gotta love it.

[@WillaLamour]

Good Lord!! It's a like a brand new machine, fresh from the showroom floor!! and with Red Tail markings ... this is MEGA-impressive! Thank you for sharing this.

[@ipi223]

Really beautiful plane! I imagine in a bright sunny day crossing the sky with all the chrome..must be seen from really far way!

[@aandc2005]

Must have taken months to polish all that aluminum! Looks incredible!!

[@machbaby]

True. But I never understood why so many American planes during WWII flew in combat in shinny aluminum airframes? (I know, not to this degree.) The sun reflecting back off must have given them away for miles. The Germans easily had the best aircraft camo schemes. Just an observation.

[@FP194]

@@machbaby Actually that was a warning to the enemy pilots that they were about to have a bad day A P51D shot down an ME262

[@charlestirkey]

Fantastic paint job and awsome chrome

[@khatarootube]

I won a raffle for a ride in a P-51 Mustang and I have to say, it was the ride of my life!

[@heididietrich9800]

That sounds cool!

[@GarrisonFall]

I'm turning green with envy. Was it a training variant? (Two seater.)

[@lawrencemaxwell6536]

xoxo most beautiful sound is the pre-oiler on anything thar moves....i was second behind one at bfi .... watched and listened to its run up and take off in my 172.... what a beautiful machine....so so powerful so so beautiful....xoxo kermie cam.....more more more

[@Quebster]

"That's the bomb release. We don't use that." LOL

[@robertdivany1627]

Not anymore lol

[@adembayraktar3860]

😂😂

[@indoraptorindosavage2712]

Not yet

[@Packle.]

@NowhereMan_ YT Do you really think there is a bomb in it. there has not been a bomb in that bay since WW2

[@CallSignAlza]

“I only use it when my wife kicks me out of the house.”

[@davidcaro8217]

The highly polished al-u-mini-um skin is very distinctive!

[@codyclampitt4055]

the p 51 mustang is my favorite plane out of any modern and old.

[@howardbowen-RC-Pilot]

I have seen you fly and land your Mustang. At your Fantasy of Flight museum in Florida. Got to be 10yrs ago. Just wanted to say the P51D coolest ride ever, next to a Spitfire. But no jump seat in a Spit. Loved the museum, very impressed with your Sunderland and your extensive aero engine collection. My father apprenticed at Rover Shadow factory in Solihull making Bristol Hercules during early ww2 Imagine my surprise that you own some, still in the crate.

[@jessicaeernisse958]

Thank you for your services! God bless y'all!

[@robertcameron9049]

My favorite all time airplane ever.

[@williamhoskins7818]

Coolest "crash helmit" ever.

[@chrisbly4402]

Kermit Weeks is my spirit animal.

[@StraightEdgeAlexxx31]

these beautiful things saved my grandfathers lives on numerous occasions. my grandfather on my mothers side told me how they saved everybody's skin in france, and my grandfather on my fathers side told me the same on the pacific front shortly before the bombs were dropped. i wouldnt be here if it wasnt for this perfect machine.... easily my favorite aircraft of all time.

[@Gapooz]

Mustangs and Spitfires are my favs for WW II fighter planes.

[@mauricetomas]

Wow you sir are a professional. Really got it dialed in. Thank you for explaining the process.

[@migueljimenez9060]

My father assembled 30 P51 airplanes in the decade of 1948 - 1955 during the dictatorship of Rafael Leonidas Trujillo in the Dominican Republic, he was one of the first promotion of mechanics of those aircraft., thanks for this video.

[@chevyon37s]

I hope she stays that well polished and well kept!

[@tsiyyon5601]

No ones going to mention he’s wearing a Rolex aswell. This guy seems like a true badass lol

[@Make-Asylums-Great-Again]

CryTec don’t you wear one? I thought everyone had a Rolex.

[@BareSphereMass]

If you own a ~$3 Million airplane, a $12,000 watch is not that much...

[@tsiyyon5601]

BareSphereMass well I didn’t exactly know he owns the plane buddy.

[@e.d.4824]

GMT

[@kreed1004]

get off the luxury jock

[@stevenperron3619]

The most beautiful aircraft I've ever seen!!

[@olliepainter2155]

- About to fly in a plane - Keep in mind that it was a WW2 FIGHTER - Dresses like hes about to go grocery shopping - Is a legend

[@behindthen0thing]

Not a legend

[@kaito1213]

It a Legand

[@maxkady9478]

What a stunning plane. Must be a riot to fly.

[@mobius-1503]

thank you soooo much for posting this. how i wish i were one of you master p51 pilots but you know..this is the closest il get to being and flying in one so il definately settle for getting an actual walkthrough of what you go thro to get these machines up in the air. very much appreciated ^-^

[@dogsbyfire]

Nice, descriptive video. Very generous of you to share this info. Thank you!

[@shawnbrown7909]

Great plane...love the Red Tail configuration. Great video.

[@ronaldcantrell7054]

That is the most beautiful piece of machinery I have ever seen!

[@booster5329]

Thank you for the respect to Lee Archer and the Tuskegee Airmen. I love the guy in the Zoot Suit.The Red Tails.

[@Rikki0]

My Dad was a BTG in B-17F's in WWII with the 100th out of Thorpe Abbots. I was born in "50. He told me the only reason I was here was because the Mustangs showed up after his eighth mission. Thanks North American, and Semper Fi.

[@jaex26]

5:47 "let me just check my watch" *checks his Rolex* "Oh that's right, I'm rich"

[@Ryan-ie4se]

he said to oil it for 2 minutes idiot

[@renlin8925]

Ryan's RC are you sure he’s the idiot

[@exiletsj2570]

Well he owns a vintage aircraft, so that’s kind of a given, buddy.

[@klontz3572]

Rolex's serve certain purposes.. Rolex's are for different things. There are sea-dwellers and oysters (etc...) which are designed for low depth divers. There are sky-dwellers (and others that I won't bother listing) that are for flying (hints the name). Also, these watches aren't as expensive as you think. You can get a Rolex for as low as around $3,000 and some of the newer or older and rarer models go upwards of $10,000+.

[@TungstenCarbideTempe]

Grog lol that’s a good one!! Lol its sure a lot of people who don’t get the joke and insult before doing any thinking.

[@MiataTravels]

I have loved these planes my entire life. Thanks for the ride! Next time, though, honk it back on its tail and fly straight up!

[@koencagurangan3256]

1:18 damn, this plane's seen five kills? That's amazing, but then again it is a Red Tail, heard those pilots were living legends in the sky

[@lepone2317]

Absolutely. The pilot who flew this beautiful plane was definitely an ace.

[@starsmoth5182]

That’s what the nazi symbols are for? The kills the pilot got?

[@koencagurangan3256]

@@starsmoth5182 Yeah, they're Victory Markings, a decal painted on the plane to show the pilot's kill count. Usually the flag or symbol of the country that owned the plane they shot down, I think.

[@SenkaBandit]

@@koencagurangan3256 yes true

[@wilsonblauheuer6544]

I love the sound of this plane. It is magnificent.

[@jacobairfix7875]

Wow what a plane

[@goodboyringo9716]

That would be the sweetest thing ever to be able to fly it !

[@exposingthedarknesswiththe9190]

*The Mighty Mustang of WWII was the F-22 in of its time!!* *This will be exciting to watch, as we've never seen anyone post such an incredible vlog!* *We really appreciate you sharing it with us too!!*

[@stevewilk2726]

The MIGHTY MACHINE of WWII was the P47 not 51.......

[@Nerezza1]

@@stevewilk2726 This. The P-47 pilots preferred to emergency land instead of bailing out because the plane was so tough and the cockpit had so much extra space.

[@absinth2k1]

nice joke, the F-22 in this time was the ME262

[@absinth2k1]

@flip inheck thats not true and Meteor was in Service? Hahaha

[@gravydavy4188]

What an absolutely beautiful aircraft.

[@davidblack1829]

Amazing how fast those kids got up in the air back then..

[@paulhinson8030]

Lot of stuff crammed into that amazing cockpit!

[@IHUTCHI]

I love this plane! I helped to rebuild it back in the mid 1990's in California. What a great way to start my aircraft maintenance career. I can still see the parts I helped to build. Thanks for the video!

[@DIOSpeedDemon]

Lucky Dogg. Worked on the Best right from the start of your career.

[@heididietrich9800]

It's a pretty plane!

[@vividvulpe9842]

✌️& ❤️

[@f0rumrr]

The greatest plane ever made, in my opinion.

[@MyNextShotWontMiss]

"That's the bomb release, we don't use that". Mad lad

[@mrbadfox1944]

This plane is so cool.

[@auralfury]

3.2k dislikes?...u nuts!..must be old axis pilots.That is a beautiful piece of machinery, Love how you explain the startup procedure and why things function the way they do....great vid as always....Go Redtails!

[@MrRobie11]

😀they must have been Russians

[@douglasfreeman3229]

What a a superb piece of American engineering. Beautiful plane. Beautiful Cock-pit. Gorgeous. Absolutely flipping smashing!