The Eternal Merlin: What It Takes to Keep a P-51 Engine Turning

Editorial Staff

Sunday, February 08, 2009 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

The Collings Foundation tours the U.S. annually with a P-51 Mustang, notable for its 70-year-old Packard-built Merlin engine that flies daily.
The article's core question is what it takes to reliably maintain such a vintage engine for daily operation.
Mark Henley of the Collings Foundation provides a detailed explanation of these maintenance procedures.
This information is presented in an extended podcast format.

See a mistake? Contact us.

The Collings Foundation continues its annual tour of the U.S., this year with a P-51 Mustang equipped with a Packard-built Merlin. The airplane flies daily, so it’s fair to ask: What does it take to keep a 70-year-old engine running reliably? In this extended podcast, the Collings Foundation’s Mark Henley explains the details.

Duration:

File Size: download here