See the race-engine go during qualification in 2006 - click on this link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAPFTUi4Vr8
Stu Eberhardt - Merlin's Magic (by Curtis Fowles at MustangsMustangs.com)
to see the original article and photos, click:
http://www.mustangsmustangs.net/p-51/p51shows/reno2006/merlinsmagic.shtml
What a week for Stu Eberhardt and the Merlin's Magic crew. They had a Sparrow merlin installed back in January of 2006 and have been breaking her in. Everything has been working very well before Reno. Steve did the last bit of race prep in Hollister and they are ready to go.
| They flew on Sunday during qualifying but did not clock, just cruising around. Monday they would up the power to 80-85 inches to check things out. Sounds good, Stu has a good line. Coming past pylon 6 (I was between 6 and 7) I heard a pop or cough, don't remember, but I lowered my camera for a sec. to see what was going on. Stu pulled off the course and flew just west of where I was. I took a few frames as he passed. A mayday was called as Stu turns airspeed into precious altitude and heads southeast towards 08. (click image to enlarge to full screen) | {Click to enlarge} |
No smoke as he passed, no oil down the side. As he gets closer to the approach end of 08, the smoke comes, that's bad. Then the smoke stops, that's worse - oil is gone. The merlin is still turning as Eberhardt takes a short approach to 08. He puts her down on the numbers and coasts to a stop. Oil is everywhere. The damage is big to the merlin. A rod gave up and punched a huge hole all around the case. You've seen the pics - ouch. Luckily, all the cowling parts stayed on. Nice flying by Stu Eberhardt.
{Click to enlarge} | {Click to enlarge} |
So, the pizza is delivered, the crew is fired up and the fun begins. Someone will retrieve a stocker from Hollister while others begin the teardown. Umm ... first some clean-up. They work late and get the engine ready to pull. A crane shows up and they swap the bad for good. Merlin's Magic crew get everything going later the next day (Tuesday). They have a run-up, everything working good. Wednesday they go out for last chance qualifying and do very well for a stocker with a 363 mph lap. Great work guys. They are in.
Thursday they have to race finish in the middle at 355 mph. Friday, they are in heat 2C and bump up the speed to 370 mph with Bill Eberhardt flying this time. Everything is looking good to finish the week winning Bronze or in the Silver.
Then the unthinkable occurs. I was out at pylon 8 Saturday morning before the start of the sport class, really waiting for the unlimited heat 3C in which Merlin's Magic was paired. While standing around talking I heard a distinctive "boom". Hmmm, it was a bit louder than the normal backfire from that old firetruck that's been running up and down the line. I look over, but it's too far to see much on the ramp. It's about 10 am or so. My guess is that pylon 8 is about 3/4 mile away.
We did not know what was going on until one of the RARA crew told us that Merlin's Magic had an accident in the pits. Hmmm. We did hear a boom. Merlin's Magic was not in Heat 3C. Later that day, I was able to get by the Merlin's Magic pits and find out what happened.
One of the oxygen tanks on the right side of the rear fuselage blew up when it was being filled! Ryan let me take a closer look. The damage is tremendous. Rivets were sheared off and popped, skins were blown off or rolled out, the tank was flatened. Even the control cables were sheared by the impact! Ken McBride was only 30 feet away in the pits and said it was like a bomb. Busted rivets and metal flying around. One of the panels from the right side blew completely off and up against the Merlin's Magic trailer. No serious injuries, unbelievable. One man had to go the hospital with some hearing problems, and was later released.
{Click to enlarge} | {Click to enlarge} |
Like the winners that they are, Team Merlin's Magic put together a plan, some help and started to work on Sunday morning. By the end of Sunday, the damaged P-51 was dismantled and on a flatbed truck. Fuselage, tailcone, wings and engine are the four major parts trucked away.
We certainly do wish them the best of luck with the rebuild. The rear fuselage and tailcone might be able to be repaired, but I don't know. The expolosion might have damaged the fuselage much more and require an entire fuselage rebuild. Whatever they have to do, we are pulling for them in 2007.
I'd like to thank Steve, Ryan, Mike and others who put up with me nosing around and asking stupid questions. Good luck to you guys!
Please click on the button below to make a donation using Paypal:
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As you may know, Merlin's Magic is flying again. Check out the Latest Updates for the most recent updates. Ongoing thanks for your support and interest! Following are some recent pictures of the first flights.
8/15/07:
7/30/07: As you may know, Gerry Beck was killed last Friday at Oshkosh. Dad writes - "As most of you know by now Gerry Beck, who restored Merlin's Magic after its Reno mishap last year, died in his P51 at Oshkosh. Gerry came to our rescue in our time of need, rebuilt Race 22 in record time and became our good friend. He had a passion for his work and loved and was so proud of his wife and daughter. His death has left a void that cannot be filled. Marilyn and I will miss him."
7/9/07: Thanks to Ken Mock for the generous donation.
Work has been focused on the T6 for the last several weeks. Annual inspection found a leaking intake valve on the #4 cylinder. It was pulled and overhauled by Aero Engines. Back on plane and test flown on the 4th of July. That's basically it for Archimedes until Reno. Now it's back to getting Merlin's Magic ready.
7/9/07: Copy of FlyPast article - click on the below image to open up the article. You will need to zoom to about 150% to see the text.
6/1/07: FlyPast.com hi-lites Merlin's Magic in its coming July issue. From the web site: "Magic Really Does Happen - Wrecked by a ramp accident, the Eberhardt family Mustang looked like it would be out of the sky for years. Frank B Mormillo explains how 108 days later, the P-51 was back in the air."
4/15/07: Merlin's Magic is still flying. Attention now is on the race engine. Parts will be salvaged from it to make up a stock motor.
The following photo was forwarded to us by Mike Arnold. It was photographed by J.T. Ochialini from the top of home pylon. This is the first like it that I have seen.
2/20/07: Merlin's Magic was back in the sky again. Frank Mormillo took the following photos for a follow-up article he is writing for the British magazine FlyPast. In the second picture - that's mom peaking over the canopy edge.
1/13/07: The Jeffries (from Tennessee) flew in with their equipment and spent the day balancing the prop. Run-up afterwards was reported to be smooth.
1/07/07: Following the test flight, Merlin's Magic "limped" home to Livermore. A number of problems took the plane back down for repair including:
- prop out of balance (plane shood badly during flight home)
- fuel boost pump inop on right tank
- cooling system not working properly
- some instruments inop
01/07/2007: [Written by David Leininger ] - Merlins Return -
An astonishing 108 days after being severely damaged, on September 16, 2006, during an oxygen bottle servicing, at the Reno National Championship Air Races, Merlins Magic leapt off the runway and into the air over Minden, NV. Stu Eberhardt made the short test flight after the Mustang was reassembled, following a magical rebuild. Immediately following the accident, many within the warbird community embraced one of their own, and offered to help rebuild Merlins Magic. Gerry Beck, looking over the damage, commented to Eberhardt, "It does not look that bad, and if the Mustang was at his facility in North Dakota, his crew could make the repairs completed in just a few weeks". That statement put into motion a remarkable series of events, Responding to the outpouring of assistance from many people, Eberhardt stated, "I have a terriffic group of friends". Within hours of Mr. Becks comments the Mustang was disassembled and carefully loaded onto a transport trailer provided by Bob Button. On his own time, Bill Haskins drove the fuselage to Beck's Tri State Aviation, in Wahpeton, North Dakota. Neil Petik led a team of craftsmen, including Mark Tisler, Jim Lund and Denis Obawa who began repairs on the airframe, and other damaged components. Replacement of one of the longerons due to corrosion stretched the repair time to less than 90 days. The repaired fuselage was trucked, again by Haskins, to a hangar in Minden, NV. loaned to the Eberhardts by Bernie Jackson. Jim Martinelli, Mike Whetzel, Ryan Imlay and Minh Venator all offered to reassemble Merlins Magic. The Mustangs reassembly was completed just before New Years day, and on January 2nd 2007, Merlins Magic returned to the skies, bringing about an unbelievable turn of events. The Eberhardts, determined to bringing back Merlins Magic, had their vision realized far more quickly than they could have hoped, thanks to the generosity and professionalism within the warbird community. When queried about the return of his Mustang to flying condition, Stu Eberhardt responded by saying, "We all expected the process would take several years to complete, but I am elated and very greatful to have observed the rapid and continued progress to bring Merlins Magic back". Many people say, there is no more magic left in the world. One look at Merlins Magic, and not only is there evidence to the contrary, but it would appear Merlin has returned.
12/25/2006: Another photo from Ryan Imlay - picture was taken on Dec 16. The plane is togehter and the engine has been test run. The picture does a good job showing the fuselage repair work.
12/11/2006: I just received this photo from Ryan Imlay - part of the crew. The image is dated Nov 22, 2006. I also added it to the Fuselage Gallery.
12/10/2006: From Scott Adie - "Merlin looks about the same but in fact, almost all mechanical work is done that can be done without the prop. Looks great to me!"
12/6/2006: Scott Adie joined dad, Jim M and Ryan in Minden yesterday. Looks like Merlin's Magic is still on pace to fly again in 2006. I have added some photos taken by Scott to the Fuselage Gallery. The prop is on its way over the hill.
12/5/2006: After cooler flushed and repaired - required a significant overhaul. Prop still at the shop for routine maintenance. Some "racing gossip" - Rare Bare has been sold to someone in Texas - he also purchased the race motor from the Dwelles (Critical Mass). Dego Red for sale. Cloud Dancer still at Stead. Voodoo has finally made it home. I am still waiting for photos / updates from Minden.
12/1/2006: Just heard from mom - she received a quick report from dad. Merlin's Magic is sitting on its wheels. It is coming together quickly and is on track to fly before the end of the year. The only unfortunate news is that many parts (such as hoses) need to be replaced. $$$.
11/29/2006: Dad heading up to Minden to check on progress. He is bringing various parts such as the new rudder. I should have his report tomorrow. Site donations from Jim Biddlecome (2nd time), Mike Shreeve, Jeff Heyser, Boyd Mock, Brad Anderson, Ron Henning and Rich Sugden.
11/17/06: From email message from T6 "Archimedes" speed guru Bill Simms:
"But, by coincidence, I was going north on Interstate 29 on Friday to do some deer hunting and saw Truck Driver Bill pulling the trailer with the plane going south about 40 miles north of Sioux Falls on the Interstate..."
11/16/06: Major repairs to fuselage are complete. Gerry Beck and team competed in record time. Site donations from Kurt Heilbronner, Jim Biddlecome, New Zealand Judy Keen.
Site donation from Rob Roche - the first to make a donation from this site.
10/1/2006: Fuselage is trucked by "Truck Driver Bill" to Gerry Beck and team. Work begins immediately. Site donation from
9/17/06 (Sunday) - All parts are loaded and trucked to Minden, NV.
9/17/06 (Sunday) - Merlin's Magic is disassembled in record time.
9/14/06 (Thursday) - O2 tanks explode and all but destroy the fuselage.
9/11/06 (Monday) - damage is quite severe.
9/11/06 (Monday) - during qualification, race motor blows. Dad makes "dead stick" landing.
