"Precious Metal"

Ask any pilot what the sexiest airplane is and undoubtedly you'll get the P-51 Mustang. It's an incredibly sexy flying machine and made history as one of -- if not -- the most significant warbirds in history. There are only about 150 still flying today. I can count myself fortunate as a pilot and photographer who has had the pleasure of flying in a P-51 dual control trainer. The sound of the engine....the power....the experience is UNFORGETTABLE!

"Precious Metal" stands alone in the field of those few Mustangs still flying. She is truly one of a kind. She is the only P-51D that has a Rolls Royce Griffon engine with contra-rotating props. This machine is modified--fast--dangerous and memorable. Do you remember the Breitling watch ads, with John Travolta and this plane?

Her future is fast. Her past is dangerous. Thom Richard will fly her this year at the 2011 Reno Air Races where he will put her 3000+ hp to the test reaching speeds in excess of 500 mph at a mere 50 to 100 feet off of the deck. God Speed and God be with him and "Precious Metal".

If you want the chance of a lifetime to see such an incredible working piece of history and art: visit Warbird Adventures in Kissimmee, Florida.

That's part of the story. The photos is my compilation of HDR and vision, merged with passion. Let me know what you think....did I succeed to pique your fancy as well?

Griffon engineHDR MustangsHDR Precious MetalHDR Thom RichardHDR WarbirdsHDR photography by Barb CochranHDR planesJohn TravoltaOne of a Kind MustanP51 MustangPictures P51 MustangPictures Precious Metal MustangPrecious Metal MustangRare MustangReno Air RacesRollsRoyce Griffon engineWarbird AdventuresWarbirdsphoto Mustangswww.BarbCochranPhotography.comwww.PlaneHDR.comPreciousMetal