S-51

Stewart S-51D Mustang

SN – 463221

The Stewart S-51D Mustang is an American aerobatic homebuilt aircraft that was designed by Jim Stewart and produced by Stewart 51 of Vero Beach, Florida, introduced in 1994. When it was available the aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.

The S-51D is a 70% scale version of the World War II P-51D Mustang fighter aircraft.

Design & Development

Designer Jim Stewart took a leave of absence from his employer, Pratt & Whitney, in 1989 to work on the S-51D’s tooling and design. The prototype took flight on 30 March 1994 and by late June had completed its 40 hours of test flying. The S-51D Mustang features a cantilever low-wing, a two-seats-in-tandem enclosed cockpit under a bubble canopy, retractable conventional landing gear, and a single engine in tractor configuration. The aircraft is made from sheet aluminum. Its 26.00 ft (7.9 m) span wing mounts flaps and has a wing area of 123.0 sq ft (11.43 m2). The cabin width is 21 in (53 cm). The acceptable power range is 300 to 600 hp (224 to 447 kW). The specified propeller is a 91 in (2.31 m) diameter, constant speed four-bladed Hartzell Propeller unit, that is driven by a spur gear with a (2.13:1) reduction ratio. The S-51D Mustang has a typical empty weight of 2,200 lb (1,000 kg) and a gross weight of 3,000 lb (1,400 kg), giving a useful load of 800 lb (360 kg). With full fuel of 70 U.S. gallons (260 L; 58 imp gal) the payload for the pilot, passenger, and baggage is 380 lb (170 kg). The standard day, sea level, no wind, take off with a 400 hp (298 kW) engine is 1,080 ft (329 m) and the landing roll is 1,800 ft (549 m). The manufacturer estimated the construction time from the supplied standard kit as 2000 hours. A fast-build kit was also available.