How Many P-51 Mustangs Are Still Airworthy?
The P-51 Mustang is one of the most iconic fighter aircraft of World War II, renowned for its speed, range, and role in escorting bombers over Europe and the Pacific. Decades after the war, a surprising number of these legendary warbirds are still flying today, maintained by dedicated collectors, museums, and aviation enthusiasts around the world. For aviation fans and history buffs, knowing how many P-51 Mustangs are still airworthy offers a fascinating glimpse into the legacy of one of the fastest piston-powered aircraft ever built.
Despite being over 75 years old, roughly 150 P-51 Mustangs remain airworthy, supported by global networks that provide Merlin engine parts, pilot expertise, and maintenance knowledge. In addition, many more complete but non-flying Mustangs are preserved in museums or private hangars, keeping the aircraft’s historic legacy alive. These remaining Mustangs continue to amaze audiences at airshows and warbird events, highlighting the enduring appeal of this legendary fighter.
How Many P-51 Mustangs Are Still Around?
According to the latest census from the enthusiast website MustangsMustangs, there are currently 311 complete P-51 Mustang airframes worldwide. Of these:
- 29 are in long-term storage
- 54 are under active restoration
- 159 remain airworthy
- 66 are on static display in museums
- 9 have uncertain status due to limited public information
The list is updated weekly with serial numbers provided by owners, insurers, registrars, and the general public.
P-51D Mustang Specifications
| Specification | Standard Units | Metric Units (in parentheses) |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | Packard Merlin V-1650-7, 1,695 hp | 1,264 kW |
| Maximum speed | 437 mph | 703 km/h |
| Cruise speed | 275 mph | 443 km/h |
| Range (with drop tanks) | 1,000 mi | 1,609 km |
| Service ceiling | 41,900 ft | 12,771 m |
| Wingspan | 37 ft | 11.28 m |
| Length | 32 ft 3 in | 9.83 m |
| Height | 13 ft 8 in | 4.17 m |
| Combat load | 6 × .50 cal MG, 10 × 5 in rockets or 2,000 lb bombs | — |
The definitive P-51D was powered by the Packard V-1650-7 engine and armed with six .50 caliber AN/M2 Browning machine guns. Of the D-models produced, 1,600 were built in Dallas and 600 in Inglewood. Additionally, 100 P-51D-1-NA aircraft were shipped disassembled to Australia, while under Lend-Lease, 282 Mustangs served as the “Mustang IV” in the Royal Air Force (RAF).
Airworthy Mustangs
Out of the approximately 15,000 P-51s built during World War II, more than 8,000 were "D" models—the most common variant. Today, the Commemorative Air Force estimates that only around 150 Mustangs are airworthy, either flying, in museums, or undergoing restoration. This means that less than 1 percent of the 15,586 fighters produced between 1941 and 1945 still take to the skies.
Why So Many Mustangs Survived?
Several factors contributed to the Mustang’s survival. High production numbers played a key role: North American Aviation built over 15,000 Mustangs, flooding the post-war surplus market with affordable aircraft. After V-J Day, the U.S. Army Air Forces deemed thousands of Mustangs surplus, and civilians could purchase them for as little as $3,500 each, often towing them to farms or racetracks instead of scrapping them.
The War Assets Administration and the Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC) managed the storage, sale, and disposal of WWII aircraft. By the summer of 1945, the RFC operated 30 sales depots and 23 sales centers, transferring a total of 117,210 aircraft as surplus. Commercial airlines bought DC-3s and C-54s, while transports and trainers found civilian or Allied buyers. Fighters and bombers, however, had limited civilian use, apart from Warbird preservation, museums, and aerial firefighting roles.
Surplus Aircraft Prices at the End of WWII
According to the Commemorative Air Force, typical prices for surplus aircraft were:
- P-38 Lightning: $1,250
- A-26 Invader: $2,000
- P-51 Mustang: $3,500
- B-25 Mitchell: $8,250
- B-17 Flying Fortress: $13,750
- B-24 Liberator: $13,750
Preservation and Legacy
The Mustang’s historical significance and pivotal role in the Allied victory have driven extensive preservation efforts. Many surviving aircraft are housed in museums, while airworthy examples continue to perform at airshows and flying displays. Combined with passionate collectors and restoration enthusiasts, these efforts have ensured that more P-51 Mustangs survive today than most other WWII aircraft.
Mustang Economics
In 2023, Plane & Pilot reported on what was believed to be the last original, unrestored P-51D Mustang ever offered for sale, alongside what was advertised as the world’s largest single source of P-51 parts. The seller claimed they had enough parts to fill 6–8 semi-trucks. The asking price on Controller.com? $4.5 million—and it appears the aircraft has since been sold.
According to market data from Controller.com, the price for a North American P-51D Mustang can vary widely, typically ranging from $3 million to $5 million. However, many listings simply display “call for price,” reflecting the highly individualized nature of these rare aircraft.
A notable example comes from 2015, when a barn-find P-51 was auctioned on GlobalAir.com:
- Serial number 44-84896
- Built in 1944 for wartime service
- Served until 1956 with the 169th Fighter Squadron of the Illinois National Guard
- Later stored in California, then sold on the civilian market for $867 to P.J. Murray of Oxnard, California, registered as tail number N5416V
The estate of Mr. Sholz set the starting bid at $150,000, but speculation suggested the final bid could reach $400,000–$800,000, even without the engine. Restoring a Mustang is an expensive endeavor, with online aviation communities like GlobalAir.com estimating that a full restoration could easily cost at least $1.5 million, far exceeding the purchase price.
Owning a P-51 Mustang, therefore, is not just about the initial cost—it’s a long-term investment in restoration, maintenance, and preservation of a historic warbird.
By The Numbers
The P-51 Mustang was designed in 1940 by James H. Kindelberger, with the prototype completed the same year and achieving its first flight on October 26, 1940. The initial design featured the Allison V-1710 engine, which lacked an export-sensitive turbosupercharger or multi-stage supercharger. As a result, early Mustangs had limited high-altitude performance.
In mid-1942, the Rolls-Royce Mustang X addressed this limitation by replacing the Allison engine with a Rolls-Royce Merlin 65, a two-stage, intercooled supercharged engine. This upgrade significantly improved performance at altitudes above 15,000 feet without sacrificing range. During World War II, Mustang pilots were credited with destroying nearly 4,950 enemy aircraft, cementing its reputation as one of the war’s most effective fighters.
The Mustang in Action
The North American P-51 Mustang quickly earned its reputation as the gold standard of World War II fighters, according to the National WWII Museum. Nicknamed the “Little Friend,” the Mustang played a pivotal role in the strategic bombing campaign over Germany. Originally, the British had requested P-40 Warhawks from North American Aviation, but instead, the company proposed designing a brand-new fighter. When the British accepted it into service, they famously christened it the “Mustang.”
Early P-51s struggled with high-altitude performance, prompting experiments in 1942. Both American and British engineers fitted the Mustang airframe with Rolls-Royce Merlin engines, dramatically improving speed and high-altitude capabilities. This upgrade enabled the aircraft to reach top speeds exceeding 400 miles per hour. Mustang production then ramped up, and the first American units began arriving in Europe by the end of 1943.
Before the Mustang’s arrival, the Allied strategic bombing campaign faced heavy losses. Long-range bombers lacked adequate escort fighters, leaving them vulnerable to German interceptors. The Mustang’s combination of high speed, extended range, low production cost, and six .50 caliber M2 Browning machine guns made it the perfect solution.
Rare Luftwaffe footage of a P-51 Mustang get shot by a BF-109 pic.twitter.com/bL0IalZi7k
— Acepilot Aviation (@AcepilotAV) April 16, 2023
By the end of 1944, 14 of the 15 fighter squadrons of the US Eighth Air Force were equipped with Mustangs. In Europe, the P-51 dominated the skies, destroying nearly 5,000 enemy aircraft while also carrying up to 1,000 pounds of bombs and rockets. In the Pacific theater, Mustangs flying from Iwo Jima escorted Boeing B-29 Superfortresses on bombing missions over Japan, demonstrating the aircraft’s versatility across theaters of war.
Post-War Service
After World War II, the P-51 Mustang remained a highly valued fighter for air forces around the world, serving in both peacetime and subsequent conflicts. The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) received some of the earliest Mustang shipments during the war, while Commonwealth Aircraft of Australia produced 200 Mustangs under license from North American Aviation.
In Canada, the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) operated P-51s within several RAF squadrons, integrating the aircraft into post-war defense planning. The Netherlands East Indies Air Force received 40 Mustangs, which saw combat during conflicts in Indonesia. The Soviet Union operated a small number of Mustangs, although these were not deployed in front-line service. Meanwhile, the United States supplied 50 P-51s to China before the end of WWII; these aircraft remained in Chinese service into the mid-1950s.
New Zealand ordered 320 P-51s just before the conclusion of the war, with 30 delivered in 1945. These aircraft were assembled locally and assigned to the Territorial Air Force (TAF), part of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF). The TAF was disbanded in 1955, and the remaining Mustangs were sold for scrap, marking the end of their operational use in New Zealand.
Which Countries Operated the P-51 Mustang?
Several countries around the world adopted the P-51 Mustang after World War II, making it one of the most widely used fighters of its era.
Sweden was among the largest overseas operators, ordering 157 Mustangs before the war ended. By 1952, jets replaced the Mustangs, and Sweden sold 25 of them to Israel as well as to several Latin American nations. Some surviving aircraft today flew with the USAAF, then Sweden, and later in Latin America.
Switzerland received 100 Mustangs in 1948, which remained in service until 1956. The Italian Air Force operated 48 Mustangs between 1948 and 1953. Israel’s IDFAF initially had only 2 Mustangs in 1948, but expanded its fleet to 25 aircraft from Sweden in 1952. The South African Air Force (SAAF) flew 95 Mustangs during the Korean War, although many were lost by 1952. The Philippines also employed the Mustang in the post-war era, retiring the aircraft by the mid-1950s.
Primary Operators
- United States: United States Army Air Forces
- United Kingdom: Royal Air Force
Other Operators
- Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF)
- Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF)
- Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF)
- Soviet Union
- China (WWII)
- Sweden (RSwAF)
- South Africa (SAAF)
- Philippines (PAF)
- South Korea (ROKAF)
- Israel (IDF)
- Dominican Republic (FAD)
- Switzerland
- Italy
- Cuba
- Costa Rica
- Guatemala (FAG)
- Nicaragua (GN)
- Uruguay (FAU)
- Venezuela (FAV)
- Bolivia (FAB)
- El Salvador (FAS)
- Haiti (FAH)
- Netherlands East Indies Air Force (NEIAF)
- Greece
Many Mustangs Are Still Airworthy
Today, approximately 150 P-51 Mustangs remain airworthy, thanks to extensive support networks across the United States, the British Commonwealth, and South Africa. These networks share Merlin engine parts, pilot expertise, and maintenance tips, ensuring that these historic fighters can still take to the skies.
In addition, about 152 complete but non-flying airframes are preserved in private hangars and museums, safeguarding the Mustang’s cultural and historical legacy.
However, the flying Mustang fleet faces challenges. Shrinking pilot pools, changes in aviation fuel policies, and aging engines all threaten to reduce the number of airworthy examples in the coming years. As one of the fastest piston-powered aircraft ever built, the Mustang will require continued financial, technical, and educational support to ensure it remains a visible and flying icon for future generations.
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