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    This page documents a history of a specific aircraft. The details provided vary from aircraft to aircraft and are dependent on the research and amount of data uploaded to the Aerial Visuals database.

    Airframe Family: North American A-36 / P-51/F-51 Mustang / P-48 Enforcer
    Latest Model:P-51D Mustang
    Last Military Serial:9553 RCAF
    Construction Number:122-31207
    Last Civil Registration:N6303T
    Compressed ID:NA P-51D sn 9553 RCAF cn 122-31207...
    Latest Owner or Location:Pizza On Call Franchise Co Inc, Columbus, GA

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    Dates

    Event

    Constructed as a P-51D.

    Circa 1944

    Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Army Air Force with s/n 44-63481.

    7 June 1947

    Taken on Strength/Charge with the Royal Canadian Air Force with s/n 9553.

    From Circa November 1956 to Circa 1960

    To Intercontinental Airways/James H. Defuria and Fred J. Ritts, Canastota, NY with new c/r N6303T.

    Circa 27 December 1957

    Struck off Strength/Charge from the Royal Canadian Air Force.

    From Circa 10 May 1960 to Circa 1961

    To Aero Enterprises, Elkhart, IN keeping c/r N6303T.

    Circa 18 March 1961

    To Century Mutual Insurance, Des Moines, IA keeping c/r N6303T.

    From Circa 12 July 1961 to Circa 1962

    To Aero Enterprises, Elkhart, IN keeping c/r N6303T.

    Circa 7 February 1962

    To Pinellas Aircraft Inc/Bernard Little, Saint. Petersburg, FL keeping c/r N6303T.

    Circa 25 April 1962

    To The Brane Corp, Largo, FL keeping c/r N6303T.

    From Circa 23 August 1963 to Circa 1964

    To Agels Inc/Bernard Little, Tampa, FL keeping c/r N6303T.

    From Circa 15 February 1964 to Circa 1972

    To Pizza On Call Franchise Inc/Richard K. Kestle, Columbus, GA keeping c/r N6303T.

    25 January 1965

    To Pizza On Call Franchise Co Inc, Columbus, GA keeping c/r N6303T.

    Circa 1965


    Photographer: Collect-Air Photos

    Circa 1965


    Photographer: Collect-Air Photos

    Circa 1965


    Photographer: Collect-Air Photos

    From 6 September 1965 to 12 September 1965

    Raced as #13.
    The airframe was not modified other than airframe cleanup including refairing the wing gun ports, in installation of an extended vertical tail and blunt tip Hamilton Standar propeller. Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Unlimited class. The primary pilot was Richard K Kestle. Qualified in 9th place with an average speed of 311.35 mph. Raced in Heat 1. Finished in 4th place with an average speed of 299.66 mph. Raced in Heat 3 Silver. Finished in 4th place with an average speed of 331.68 mph.

    From 6 September 1965 to 6 September 1965

    Raced as #13, named Miss diet rite cola.
    The race was from Saint Petersburg, FL, to Reno. Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Harolds Club Transcontinental race. The primary pilot was Richard K Kestle. Raced in the One Mile Course race. Finished in 4th place with an average speed of 289.7 mph.

    Circa 6 September 1965


    Photographer: Robert F. Pauley
    Notes: Dick Kestle made his racing debut in 1965 in this Mustang. Photo taken at Reno Municipal.

    Circa 6 September 1965


    Photographer: Robert F. Pauley

    From 23 September 1965 to 26 September 1965

    Raced as #13.
    Competed at the Las Vegas International Air Races in the Unlimited class. The primary pilot was Richard K Kestle. Qualified in 9th place with an average speed of 329.70 mph. Raced in Heat 1B. Finished in 5th place with an average speed of 310.52 mph. Started Heat 2C, but did not finish.

    From 11 November 1965 to 14 November 1965

    Raced as #13.
    The race was from Saint Petersburg, FL to Palm Springs, CA, 2,037.9 miles. Competed at the Palm Springs International Aeroclassic in the Transcontinental race. The primary pilot was Richard K Kestle. Raced in the One Mile Course race. Finished in 2nd place with an average speed of 343.467 mph.

    From Circa 1966 to Circa 1967

    Modified by TFA with a Cavalier tall tail fin.

    From 27 May 1966 to 30 May 1966

    Raced as #13.
    Was to have competed at the National Air Races Los Angeles in the Unlimited class, but did not arrive. The primary pilot was to be Richard K Kestle.

    12 May 1967

    Involved in an incident.
    Summarized NTSB narrative from report number MIA68F0073: There were no fatalities. Incident occurred at 15:40 hours. There was minor damage. Incident occurred at the Atlanta Muni Airport, Atlanta, GA. Collided with another aircraft on the ground while taxiing from landing. Report remarks include: Pilot of N6303T taxyied into rear of N3149L. Pilot was not wearing prescribed glasses, did not s turn.
    For a complete description of the event read the NTSB Report.

    Circa 12 May 1967

    Involved in an incident.
    Was involved in a ground collision while taxying after lading at a Atlanta, GA.

    From 21 September 1967 to 21 September 1967

    Raced as #13, named Miss diet rite cola.
    Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Harolds Club Transcontinental race. The primary pilot was Richard K Kestle. Raced in the One Mile Course race. Finished in 3rd place with an average speed of 305.50 mph.

    Circa 24 September 1967


    Photographer: Robert F. Pauley

    Circa 1968


    Photographer: Unknown

    From 15 September 1968 to 22 September 1968

    Raced as #13, named MISS Diet Rite Cola.
    Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Unlimited class. The primary pilot was Richard K Kestle. Qualified in 8th place with an average speed of 278.18 mph. Raced in Heat 1. Finished in 4th place with an average speed of 311.24 mph. Raced in the Reserve race. Finished in 4th place with an average speed of 288.43 mph.

    From 15 September 1968 to 15 September 1968

    Raced as #13, named MISS Diet Rite Cola.
    The race was from Milwaukee, WI, to Reno. Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Harolds Club Transcontinental race. The primary pilot was Richard K Kestle. Raced in the One Mile Course race. Finished in 2nd place with an average speed of 278.46 mph.

    20 September 1968


    Photographer: Ron Olsen

    From 13 February 1969 to 16 February 1969

    Raced as #13.
    The race was from Frederick, MD, to Fort Lauderdale, FL. Competed at the Florida National Air Races in the Transcontinental race. The primary pilot was Richard K Kestle. Raced in the One Mile Course race. Finished in 2nd place with an average speed of 294.01 mph.

    From 14 September 1969 to 14 September 1969

    Raced as #13, named ROYAL CROWN COLA.
    The reace was from Milwaukee, WI to Reno. Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Harolds Club Transcontinental race. The primary pilot was Richard K Kestle. Raced in the One Mile Course race. Finished in 1st place with an average speed of 313.12 mph.

    From 13 September 1970 to 13 September 1970

    Raced as #13, named Miss Royal Crown Cola.
    Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Harolds Club Transcontinental race. The primary pilot was Richard K Kestle. Raced in the One Mile Course race. Finished in 1st place with an average speed of 283.66 mph.

    Circa 13 September 1970


    Photographer: Collect-Air Photos

    Circa 13 September 1970


    Photographer: Collect-Air Photos

    3 June 1972

    Crashed.
    Summarized NTSB narrative from report number MIA72FKH10: There was one fatality. Incident occurred at 10:00 hours. The airframe was destroyed. The flight departed from Washington, DC, with the destination Columbus, GA. The airframe failed in flight while in flight. Experienced an uncontrolled collision with terrain in an uncontrolled descent. The factors included; separation in flight. This aircraft was missing and was not recovered until later. Report remarks include: Rcvrd 6/9/72...
    For a complete description of the event read the NTSB Report.

    14 August 1972

    Civil registration, N6303T, cancelled.


    This dossier is waiting for review by an editor.This airframe dossier is based on
    unreviewed imported data.
    If you can verify the documented history or add to it with additional text and/or photos please feel free to do so by using the upload tool and the history editor.

    Credits
    Data for airframe dossiers come from various sources. The following were used to compile this dossier...

    Print Sources
    Air Racing Results by Gary Williams
    Directory of Unlimited Class Pylon Air Racers (c 1971 American Air Museum Inc.) by Jim Larson
    Racing Planes and Air Races A Complete History, Series 1, Volume 4, 1946-Present by Reed Kinert
    International 1970 Air Racing Annual (Atlantic Coast Air Races) by John Tegler

    Internet Sources
    Aerial Visuals - The Locator by Mike Henniger, Senior Editor
    Federal Aviation Administration in the United States of America
    National Transportation Safety Board
    Reno Air Racing Association (National Championship Air Races)
    Warbirds Directory, 6th Edition (2013) by Geoff Goodall

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