Stinker Air LLC -Thunder Mustang Air Race Plane - Tuned By Shane T

The Stinker Air LLC “Guardian Angel” Thunder Mustang Air Race Plane is tuned using Twin MoTeC M600 Engine Management Systems.
At Stead Airport in Reno, the calibration is checked and adjusted in the twin (for redundancy) MoTeC M600 Engine Management Systems. The engine is a Falconer V12 (a design based on the conventional Small Block Chevy, with 4 additional cylinders)
It is electronically fuel injected and runs 100 LL Aviation Gasoline and uses Coil Per Cylinder Ignition sourced from the GM LS Engine family.
The plane is a Thunder Mustang, a carbon fiber replica of the WW2 era P51 Mustang, having a 3/4 scale fuselage and 5/8 scale wings. It’s 700 plus horsepower V12 engine propels it to speeds approaching 300 miles per hour during the “flyby” sequence in the documentary.
Visit our channel ‪@TunedbyShaneT‬ for additional calibration videos.

[@Airplanefish]

Its great seeing a non aviation guy working on an aircraft. You looked at it for what it is. A machine or piece of equipment. Its no different than any other machine. Just a different shape. Engines are engines. Nice work. Im an aviation and automobile mechanic and i enjoyed how you took this step by step with common sense thinking

[@TunedbyShaneT]

Really appreciate that. That is precisely how I view all of them, of many different genres. Thanks for that comment.

[@rob379lqz]

Remember, nine out of ten automobile mechanics are more competent than aircraft mechanics.

[@TunedbyShaneT]

@@rob379lqz scary thought

[@rob379lqz]

@@TunedbyShaneT Yes. Modern aircraft (piston daily flyers are ~1/10th) less complex as modern automobiles (daily drivers). They should really be called Aircraft Maintainers, and Automobile Engineers. 👍

[@TunedbyShaneT]

@@rob379lqz as a member of the latter group, I agree.

[@WTF0v3r]

Such a great looking plane, but it's probably going need a little more steam than 600hp to be at the pointy end of sport gold nowadays if the Ly-Con crowd can keep them together. Best of luck to the team, and fingers crossed that air racing can find a new home somewhere.

[@TunedbyShaneT]

You may be right about that. Thanks for the best wishes!!

[@LeachimSagrav333]

Throw a blower on it then.

[@WTF0v3r]

@@LeachimSagrav333 That might be an option, but everything in aviation is a compromise. Weight, cooling drag, robustness of ancillary systems such as the psru, the prop design to turn torque in to thrust, etc, etc. Lots to consider. As it stands, the races beyond this year are in doubt so I don't think folks are going to be investing very heavily until that is sorted. '

[@TunedbyShaneT]

@@LeachimSagrav333 😂😂😂

[@chrisharris3807]

600 cubic inches 720 HP

[@5695q]

In the early 1980's there was a homebuilt kit being offered that used an Oldsmobile 300ci aluminum V-8, it looked like a mix of later mark spitfire and P-40Q with bubble canopy. It sounded like a well-built hotrod on takeoff and doing flybys, the Falconer V-12 appeared around that time, glad to see it still around since there was another company trying to sell GM based V-8's for replacing engines on certified aircraft. Once you get the computers calibrated to keep the best fuel air mixture then the fun begins to get the best power out of the engine.

[@outofcomms]

It’s been a while since I heard the name Thunder Mustang. In the early to mid 1990s I helped to conduct the ground vibration test (GVT)on the number one aircraft. It was an awesome looking aircraft at the time and even more so now.👍

[@TunedbyShaneT]

How cool. Thanks for sharing.

[@outofcomms]

@@TunedbyShaneT The company I worked for and conducted the GVT was Specialized Testing Service Arleta, Ca. The President/Owner and DER was Sandy Friezner. We also conducted the static and flight test for the “Rare Bear” out of Van Nuys with Lyle Shelton when they put the P3 props on the Bearcat. I still have video and photos of these test.

[@TunedbyShaneT]

@@outofcomms those need to go up here on KZbin!!

[@johnbridges6867]

WOW! What a Great looking Mustang. The Best colour paint scheme that I have ever seen! Splendid!!! JB. UK.

[@TunedbyShaneT]

Glad you liked it mate. Cheers for giving it a butcher’s

[@conservativemike3768]

He’s stoked, I’m stoked, we’re all stoked.

[@TunedbyShaneT]

Fact

[@hankramos8663]

Wow that little mustang is a real ass kicker and the livery is very beautiful, I screen shot photos of it and I'm seriously thinking I might just scratch build me a R/C version of that fine bird!

[@TunedbyShaneT]

Really? That would be amazing. When you complete it get back in contact I’m sure the owner would love to see your iteration.

[@hankramos8663]

@@TunedbyShaneT Roger that !

[@Paiadakine]

@@hankramos8663did you build one yet?

[@danman2001]

Love seeing these projects, Shane! Keep these videos coming. Keep up the great work, brother.

[@TunedbyShaneT]

Much appreciated. Will do!

[@matthewking2274]

Finally someone puts out a video on small scale ww2 aircraft!

[@TunedbyShaneT]

Glad you enjoyed it thanks for giving it a look

[@Haaspeed]

thanks for sharing this awesome project

[@TunedbyShaneT]

Absolutely

[@Dwarfgrinder]

Wow shane! Thanks for sharing this beautiful creation!

[@TunedbyShaneT]

My pleasure sir thanks for giving it a look

[@55Reever]

I was on Lemmon Valley drive six days ago, and I thought I heard something familiar.

[@TunedbyShaneT]

Coulda been

[@64Pete]

Sweet bird, congrats on the outcome. ✌🇦🇺

[@TunedbyShaneT]

Agree about the plane thanks for checking it out

[@RobWhittlestone]

AWESOME PROJECT! Beautiful sound. Beautiful aircraft!

[@TunedbyShaneT]

👍🏻

[@nancyplew8258]

A beautiful P-51 Mustang. My favorite. Good luck to the team. Keep safe. 🤘 👏👏👏 ❤️❤️🙋🏼‍♀️ 💙💙💙 🙋🏼‍♀️

[@TunedbyShaneT]

Well appreciated

[@nelsonpassos9291]

Nice project Shane ! That was an eye opener watching you tune lambda in such a short pipe. I guess one would think the setup would justify a blown supercharger to go along thith those short pipes. It brings me back to the basics of my days of carb emission testing where the probe needed to be much further into the pipe than 4 inches. Speaking of emission testing I never hear much on 5 gas analyzing with performance tunners, it seems a 5 gas analyser would paint a much clearer picture about engine tuning, timing efficiency not just for emissions sake ! Nice job man btw !

[@TunedbyShaneT]

You are right, 5 gas analysis would be a good option, trouble is, it’s so easy with a wideband now days no one even bothers.

[@josetellez1803]

Just got my A license and am so excited to eventually have the opportunity to do something on beauties like these

[@TunedbyShaneT]

Congrats on that License

[@josetellez1803]

@@TunedbyShaneT thank you! Planning on having my P here in the next month or two then getting a job at some sort of airline.

[@TunedbyShaneT]

@@josetellez1803 all the best sir

[@foesfly3047]

@@josetellez1803 getting your A&P will benefit you, the rest of your life. Mine has taken me much further than most people’s college degrees. The work is out there and many technology fields other than aerospace respect, appreciate and employ for it. All the best to you 😎🎩♠️

[@pcowdrey]

Lovely airplane. My only reservation is the 3-blade prop. =PC=

[@hankramos8663]

Agree 4 blade for a mustang

[@Mikeylikesit1968]

​@@hankramos8663 Not all P-51 had 4 blades. P-51A has a 3 blade

[@hankramos8663]

@@Mikeylikesit1968 yeah no we just used to Hollywood movie P51s haha👍🏾

[@TunedbyShaneT]

He recently switched to a 3 blade from a 4 blade said it made the plane smoother.

[@lemchesher311]

It is hard to hear a real P-51 fly by nowadays with out some kind of added whistle to it

[@lencac7952]

Can't help but notice the block looks like it had a bit of a dispute with rodney (-;

[@TunedbyShaneT]

Yep that is a previous engine and one reason why I was brought onboard to prevent that in the current setup.

[@sidefx996]

Awesome. Now he needs to get the matching Falconer ZR-12 Corvette to go with it.

[@TunedbyShaneT]

Haha that would be badass

[@MX304]

Even with great tuning, those engines are complete time bombs.

[@TunedbyShaneT]

Really??

[@pwpt6]

@@TunedbyShaneT Yes. They are notoriously unreliable.

[@MX304]

@@TunedbyShaneT There have been 8 fatal accidents involving Thunder Mustangs. All but one of them involved an engine failure. Many, many others have experienced engine failures, but were able to get back on the ground. Most weren't even modified engines used at Reno. Just the stock Falconer as supplied for the aircraft.

[@TunedbyShaneT]

Let’s hope we don’t suffer the fate of the others.

[@Nahngunnarson]

Perhaps the LS based V12 engines would be a better choice than the Falconer, and they are available over 1,000 HP

[@horse54a]

On the first pass it sounds like a huge v8

[@TunedbyShaneT]

Yeah it does indeed. Thanks for giving it a look

[@MurraydeLues]

Sounds like a Merlin. I have just been to an airshow that had a full size P51. It did not take off that fast. These aircraft are awesome. Seen them here in NZ and at the Races in 1982

[@TunedbyShaneT]

Yeah it’s sounds pretty amazing.

[@IR_IE_ID]

these outperform real p51 in everything but top speed and ceiling, they have double the rate of climb

[@TunedbyShaneT]

@@IR_IE_ID they are impressive little planes

[@noonehere1793]

I would like to see a turbine in that….beautiful job though!

[@TunedbyShaneT]

Where’s the fun in that? 😜

[@terrylembke8100]

Beautiful, girl . Almost sounds like a real p51. Terry

[@TunedbyShaneT]

That’s a fact. Thanks for giving it a look see.

[@robertjacobsfishing]

Amazing video. As a petrol head coming from an aviation background I can really appreciate this!

[@TunedbyShaneT]

That’s awesome thanks for giving it a look see.

[@stevemason92]

I wonder if there can be a prettier plane??? Wow

[@TunedbyShaneT]

It may or may not be possible.

[@transparentaluminum]

How long will the oxygen sensor last (or operate at full range) with 100LL fuel?

[@TunedbyShaneT]

We shall find out. Normally they are good for 150-200 hours with full leaded racing fuel.

[@foesfly3047]

This is an absolutely exceptional aircraft!!! I’m blown away that this engine exists- never heard of it. And it seems the perfect match for this airframe.

[@MurraydeLues]

I believe they were originally built for boats

[@TunedbyShaneT]

Yes as I understand they were built for Offshore powerboat racing.

[@johnk8475]

you know shit is serious when we start tuning with laptops like a clapped out big turbo civic

[@DoRC]

I'd be really interested to see what the performance is like on just one ECU running only 6 cylinders. I'd have to imagine six of those cylinders completely dead just acting like a giant air compressor would be a heck of a drag on the engine. I've worked on V12 Ferrari engines that are set up the same way and they literally won't even start when one ECU isn't working. I definitely could be wrong but it almost seems like having one ECU running each half of the engine would be doubling the likelihood of failure not creating redundancy.

[@TunedbyShaneT]

There is certainly an argument for that regarding redundancy. Yeah I’ve worked on a couple Ferrari’s like the Enzo we turboed and ran at Bonneville. So I’m familiar with the twin ecu setup one those engines. Certainly the power would be low with half the engine not running. Not even half. Just enough to hopefully land safely somewhere close by.

[@DoRC]

@@TunedbyShaneT I'm assuming that's something you guys are going to characterize since it's a pretty important part of the performance of the plane. I would be really interested to see what the difference in ideal glide ratio is between the prop stopped and feathered versus The engine only running on 6 cylinders and while they're fighting the other six. There's a lot of air drag caused by a spinning propeller. If the glide ratio isn't significantly better it might not be worth the doubling of engine management failure points.

[@TunedbyShaneT]

@@DoRC yeah these things have been this way with the twin eco setup for 25 years. We have no need or desire to “test” the theory.

[@DoRC]

@@TunedbyShaneT usually when a plane is running two ecus (or fadecs as they are normally called) it's a truly redundant system with two sets of everything all the way to dual spark plugs. This is similar to the dual mag setups of older aircraft. I've never seen a plane configured the way this one is with each ECU running half the engine.

[@rafaeltorres2886]

This is Epic.😊

[@TunedbyShaneT]

Thanks for giving it a look.

[@sanfranciscobay]

Would a standard Crate Car Engine be enough to power this Airplane? Do you need a V12?

[@flymachine]

I was friends with one of the guys involved in the development of the Thunder 'Stangs RIP, what happens to all the purpose-built racing aircraft now that Reno is no more?

[@TunedbyShaneT]

Well assumably they find a new venue. Otherwise they fly them around for fun I guess?

[@eknuds]

I have an adapter for my handheld that I can plug an aviation headset into. Maybe a centrifugal supercharger altitude compensator? That would be mega bitchen if they scaled it to 109%.

[@TunedbyShaneT]

Haha I’m on board with the “normalizer” idea

[@frankphillips5533]

Hey that sounds cool. However,, all carbon with turbo-prop........ZOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMM ! I know. It's a disease. I can't help it .

[@richardbrowne3641]

I have heard some people owning a Titan T-51 3/4 scale Thunder Mustang with Audi V12 engines turned upto 1,200 h.p. and will do 400 m.p.h. with a 4 blade propeller, but those are made out of Aluminium and not carbon fiber like the SW-51. Those airplanes are my dream flyer! Too bad it will always just be a day dream. I'll never get to own one😢. I don't have $350,000.00 U.S.. Plus the F.A.A. grounded me finding out I have Charcott Marry Tooth disease.😡

[@smartazz61]

I learn something every time I watch engineering videos. I would have never even thought about 3/4 fuselage & 5/8 wings. Or, a "homemade" v12 engine. And is that tug made by the Patey Brothers?

[@turkey0165]

If you can make a 3/4 scale Mustang then you can make a 1to1 Full Scale Aircraft! So why hasn't it been Done?

[@ThePaulv12]

Yeah man, the prop pitch lever controls the RPM and the throttle controls coarseness or otherwise of the prop blades via the governor to maintain the selected RPM between the coarse and fine stops. The blade pitch constantly changes depending on airspeed/altitude etc to maintain the selected RPM.

[@TunedbyShaneT]

Thanks for that explanation!!

[@CripesAMighty2]

Umm no... that's not an F1... Its a carbon fiber NASCAR..... You want F1, try building a carbon fiber XF-88B with a mid engine Merlin... bet you'd have the fastest piston driven prop plan on the planet!

[@HenrikBraun]

Soo cool! You guys dialed it in a couple of days, imagine how much trial and error the guys in the ‘30’s had to do.. No on bord data, no lambda😨

[@TunedbyShaneT]

They were fairly clever, lots can be learned by reading their technical documents form that time period in the NACA archive at Cranfield University.

[@tommynikon2283]

IF I ever won a Lotto (or played).... buying/flying a Thunder Mustang is in my Top 3 list. OMG...this was a dream.

[@TunedbyShaneT]

No idea what it’s like to fly, but it is a pretty nice bit of kit

[@mikemathis3936]

Not so much at idle, but when taking off and landing and doing passes at high or low speed this plane sounds very much like a Mustang minus the high pitched gear whine from supercharger gear drives. I have no idea how it manages to sound so deep and right, but well done!

[@TunedbyShaneT]

Agree completely. Thanks for giving it a look

[@williambarry8015]

Im not an aviation guy. But i looked at the inside of one of those Lycoming flat engines once. One of the difference's i noticed were the intake amd exhaust valves were the same diameter and the cam was very low lift. It was totally optimized to run at low rpm.

[@stevenborham1584]

10:30 Ooooff! Back to the smelter for this block. Crank took it fairly well though 🥵😱😲💰💰👨‍🔧👩‍🔧

[@TunedbyShaneT]

It’s headed to a fixer.

[@dondoyle8474]

This is a beautiful bird but Streaga is still the king.

[@ebikes2xs159]

One of the most impressive machines I've ever seen. It's beautiful and functional. Truly a work of art.

[@johnkoral4629]

Awesome airplane, lovely sound. The slow motion prop effects from the digital camera are unfortunate.

[@TunedbyShaneT]

Agree.

[@broncobart4354]

Wouldn’t a 4 blade prop be better to take full advantage of all that power at a lower RPM range not to mention it would look more authentic.

[@TunedbyShaneT]

I think it’s less efficient, he told me he swapped from the 4 blade to a 3 blade for efficiency.

[@AphexTwinII]

This is one of those fake mustangs isn't it....

[@TunedbyShaneT]

It’s 3/4 scale fuselage 5/8 scale wings made of Carbon.

[@davidduganne5939]

Nice report. Very interesting tech details--thanks for posting. (hey, it IS beer:30 here, too!)

[@TunedbyShaneT]

Thanks for giving it a look, glad you liked it.

[@mtacoustic1]

Add the whistle that the original Packard-Merlin's supercharger made and you would nail the original sound!

[@TunedbyShaneT]

If we gonna put a whistling device in it’s gonna be an exhaust driven supercharger

[@JamieBurril]

Why not use holley dominator with a wideband o2 no mixture adjustment at any altitude necessary seems a better choice than running 2 computers for 2 different banks….

[@Robert-mn8gc]

Xcellent 3/4 Scale P51 Mustang Pity these folks don't also construct a Spitfire Mk 18 😅

[@eduardogarciamontesdeoca5935]

Man, that engine sound is AMAZING!!!!!

[@TunedbyShaneT]

Agree

[@nos51]

Tell us more about that tank thing !

[@TunedbyShaneT]

Wasn’t that thing cool? Little remote control device for maneuvering the plane around in and out of the hangar.

[@63grandsport11]

🏆👍

[@spdaltid]

Excellent, and you're right: all props - engine running or not [ic]- can bite!

[@jgp2]

What about 250 below 10,000’?😳

[@armandosdeluxedetailing5578]

Great job Shane!!! We also had the please in fully paint correcting and ceramic coating this beauty last week.

[@TunedbyShaneT]

That’s awesome. Such a cool project to be part of.

[@wilgarcia1]

Is that an experimental? Cause I bet it could benefit from having a camera installed underneath so the pilot can see with the tailwheel down =)

[@swedenfrommycam]

Almost like my Saab Aero💕😀

[@RV4aviator]

Serious horsepower, serious aeroplane. ANY scale P-51 Mustang deserves credit. And if I'm not mistaken , this scaled Mustang actually equals the real one in speed and performance..!? Well yeah without the 6 , 50 cal Brownings...!!!! Cheers love it...! Stay safe

[@GTRliffe]

Too much can go wrong EFI, even rain can be nasty 6x Webbers would have been the go

[@farmerkevin]

"Bitchen" is correct. Mmmmmm.

[@kr4dh4x0r]

How does the dual ecu's offer redundancy if each one is running one cylinder bank? I thought the "extra" ecu in most aircraft was so that it could be a hot swappable (switchable) backup ecu should anything fail on the main one. Could you explain how this works a little more? Thank you for making the videos, they're good.

[@mstsuc2bu]

You should take it to the air races!

[@francisvantuyle]

Do you know the significance of 777 777 is Jesus Christ. Amen

[@foesfly3047]

Who made the propeller speed reduction gearbox?

[@TunedbyShaneT]

I’ll ask

[@TunedbyShaneT]

Macaulay

[@foesfly3047]

@@TunedbyShaneT you are awesome- thanks ♠️

[@alexclements5631]

There were two of these in a hanger during the 2019 air races . Great races !

[@jorbedo]

100LL or mogas?

[@foesfly3047]

100LL

[@sashadala346]

A Plastic airplane, trustworthy?

[@TunedbyShaneT]

It’s carbon, like a modern formula race car or an airbus.

[@sashadala346]

@@TunedbyShaneT Ok

[@Mike-01234]

Will it be in Reno air race this year I'm planning on going can't wait to see the race.

[@TunedbyShaneT]

That is the plan

[@ThePoker45]

Is it faster then VOODOO!!!

[@TunedbyShaneT]

Probably not

[@jameslanning8405]

Why a more traditional prop, instead of a Scimitar?

[@TunedbyShaneT]

I’ll ask

[@RFKFANTS67]

I love it. It sounds kind of like the late Lee Behel's gp5" Sweet Dreams" Mint aircraft Sir Happy flying

[@TunedbyShaneT]

Thanks for checking it out

[@MX304]

The GP-5 had a LS3 based V8.

[@jamesfulerten8494]

DON'T CRASH IT !!! I LIKE IT !!!

[@cg_justin_5327]

That thing is cool! He's fuckin movin!

[@TunedbyShaneT]

I agree with you that thing IS cool!

[@miguelsuarez8010]

He has 2 left hands?

[@nathansealey6270]

Robotic plane mover..? 😀🤘🏽

[@peterplaneman]

Whats the rough price to build something like that

[@TunedbyShaneT]

I honestly don’t know.

[@DragsterJeffCrider]

Bad ass. I love it. Thanks for sharing with us all.

[@TunedbyShaneT]

I agree with you totally and appreciate you taking the time to check it out

[@marumiyuhime]

do you use a 3 bladed prop to reduce harmonics

[@jimburig7064]

Amazing recreation.

[@TunedbyShaneT]

Thanks for giving it a look.

[@jimburig7064]

Pushrods rule.

[@mitchsterling3266]

Reminds me of a p39 king cobra

[@nancyplew8258]

Are we going to see it in an actual air race? 🙏🏼 🤞😊

[@TunedbyShaneT]

The plan is the race it at Reno this year

[@ericcurry1119]

Is this plane smaller than a regular P51 ?

[@TunedbyShaneT]

Yes as I mentioned in the video the fuselage is 3/4 scale whilst the wings are 5/8 scale to a P51

[@eazymoneyracing]

Awesome!! Someone show this to John Hale!

[@TunedbyShaneT]

Racer supporting Racer

[@generalspitfire01]

Who knew that P-51s could become racing planes.

[@TunedbyShaneT]

It’s a little racing replica, but it sure looks cool

[@generalspitfire01]

@@TunedbyShaneT agreed. But think of what would happen if that was a real P-51. They'd have to take out the guns and cover up the holes where the guns were

[@tysoncott7402]

super cool! 😎

[@TunedbyShaneT]

Thanks for giving it a look

[@lawrencecarlson2425]

Artwork in any sense of the word. Sounds like angels.

[@Bipecrazy69]

NIIIICE..

[@rogersmart1766]

What does it cruise at economy cruise settings ?

[@TunedbyShaneT]

Well to be fair he never flies it in that mode.

[@Scott-ol9zs]

Auto engine and gear box . not good

[@billadams8795]

OMG

[@miguelberetta7887]

Is this Kevin's plane?

[@tsclly2377]

Add a VORTEC Supercharger

[@TunedbyShaneT]

Haha agree

[@CanadianGrenadian]

Beautiful you are passionate what a kite!

[@TunedbyShaneT]

Many thanks sir