Turboprop Mustang

Came across an interesting photo of an ex-RAAF CA-18 Mustang which had been modified by replacing the Merlin engine with a RR Dart as used in the Viscount airliner. I can't post the photo due to copyright, but here is a link to the photo and more of the story.

Dart Mustang

Back in the dark old days of the Vietnam war, Cavalier built or refurbished mustangs with turboprop engines replacing the Merlin’s. No idea off the top of my head what engines they were but unlikely to have been darts.

Thanks for the reminder Derek. There was only one Cavalier Mustang prototype built with a Dart 510 engine. The project was taken over by Piper and marketed as the PA-48 Enforcer. For more details, click here.

There was one converted in Canberra. It did have a Dart engine in it. Nev

There was one converted in Canberra. It did have a Dart engine in it. Nev

That's the one in the linked photo Nev.

I saw it there sometime in1969. It was converted at a works called 'Aerosmith" If I recall correctly A short distance NW of the main terminal.. Nev

Came across an interesting photo of an ex-RAAF CA-18 Mustang which had been modified by replacing the Merlin engine with a RR Dart as used in the Viscount airliner. I can't post the photo due to copyright, but here is a link to the photo and more of the story.

 

Dart Mustang

Way to turn a beautiful aircraft into a fugly one. Plus it says it failed to achieve certification so had to go back to original. What the hell was the point of the exercise??

Here's the history of this aircraft

https://www.mustangsmustangs.com/p-51/survivors/serial/A68-187

It was very nicely done and would be far cheaper to run & perform better Lighter and no cooling drag and also be a lot SAFER re engine reliability. CASA or the equivalent at the time were never keen an any warbirds flying here so any excuse to stop it being certified would be employed. Nev

what would have been the rough fuel burns for each engine ?

More for the turbine but cheap as and available everywhere. Good at higher altitudes. The piston would be better at ranging as they always are but the engine weight saving is large so you could carry more fuel. Tip tanks. Nev

More for the turbine but cheap as and available everywhere. Good at higher altitudes. The piston would be better at ranging as they always are but the engine weight saving is large so you could carry more fuel. Tip tanks. Nev

Like this....from Red's link in post #3

I'm all FOR turbine conversions, but a P 51 Mustang?

ANYTHING, but a classic warbird!

Cavallier is a recognised Version. Might last longer with a reliable motor. The dart would be many times more reliable than a Merlin. Nev

Cavallier is a recognised Version

The Cavalier was an interesting development of the Mustang ultimately under the stewardship of Piper. See Piper PA-48 Enforcer - Wikipedia

I once did but now to a much less extent, get all thingy about single seat fighters. They are all a compromise like any plane and always built to a price and profits were made from their production. Each had to be constantly improved in performance often sacrificing many good aspects of the original, or it was not useful at all for long. Many had gross faults that pilots had to contend with. Liberators as an example though not a fighter.. and there's plenty of others. Some benefit flowed on from the development of many of them, but the DC 3 wasn't built as a war plane and was a giant step forward by any measure forcing others to get busy to compete with it. Nev

does anyone know when that aircraft left Canberra ? i reckon it may have still been here in 1982 (?)