XP-82 TWIN MUSTANG

The design for the XP-82 Twin Mustang was first envisioned during WWII when a long-range escort plane was requested by the United States Air Force. A plane was needed that could travel over 2,000 miles without needing a refuel. The XP-82 was based on the P-51 Mustang, an aircraft designed by Edgar Schmued. The XP-82 was originally powered by Rolls-Royce Merlin engines but due to increased costs, they were replaced with the less powerful Allison engines. During the war, the XP-82 acted as a fighter plane in Korea and is known for shooting down the first three North Korean aircraft. The plane, however, was quickly seen as inefficient and was replaced by another fighter plane, the F-86 Sabre Jet; many of the F-82s that had been built were then scrapped. Only one out of two of the first XP-82 Twin Mustangs survived. It was quickly bought by aircraft collector Walter Soplata for $300.

Aircraft restorer, Tom Reilly, came across Soplata’s XP-82 during an IRS appraisal visit in the early 1990s. Reilly immediately began to look for all the parts he needed to restore the aircraft. While the XP-82 was also designed by Schmued and included two P-51 Mustang fuselages, Reilly emphasizes how most of the parts in these two planes are not interchangeable. It took Reilly 10 years to find all the parts he needed and successfully restore the plane. Finally, on July 27, 2019, at the EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, the XP-82 Twin Mustang made its debut. Pilot Ray Fowler took the plane on several victory laps during the airshow. Reilly’s hard work finally paid off as he was recognized for his aircraft craftsmanship by being rewarded a Lindy Award; the plane’s history continues to live on.

Weston Equipment is proud to have contributed to the success of this restoration by supplying engine components for this aircraft.