I was lucky to fly in a P-51D “little Horse” in 2012 out of Ellington field. Did some barrel rolls and splits’s over Galveston Bay. Amazing day. Flew in formation with “the Dakota Kid/ Long Island Kid” P-51. Like being in a giant hot rod! P.S. I was a back seater after the fuel tank normally behind the pilot was removed and a seat and another stick installed
The Packard V-1650 Merlin is a licensed version of the Rolls-Royce Merlin aircraft engine. The Merlin engine has a time between overhauls (TBO) of typically 650-800 hours, depending on use. In fighter use, the Merlin engine may only last 300 hours, while in civil life it may reach 1200 hours.