“Top Gun: Maverick” Movie “Mustang” Now on Display

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See this aircraft Wednesdays thru Sundays from 10:00am until 4:00pm

Planes of Fame is proud to display the P-51 "Mustang" that appears in the hit movie "Top Gun: Maverick." The aircraft is currently on display in our Maloney Hangar and visitors can view it up close and take pictures.

Owned and flown by legendary actor Tom Cruise, the aircraft was built in 1944 at the North American Aviation plant in Dallas, Texas. It was built as an F-6K – a photographic reconnaissance version of the P-51. It is one of 163 F-6K variants built and featured two Eastman Kodak K-24 cameras on board with the mission to fly over enemy territory to capture images of potential targets or battlefield damage.

The "K" variant was nearly identical to the "D" variant with the exception being that it featured a four-blade 11-foot Aeroproducts propeller. The Aeroproducts prop was used due to production shortages of the normally-used Hamilton Standard four-blade props. While not an ideal solution (the prop had some balance issues), the availability of the Aeroproducts propeller nevertheless allowed the P-51K/F-6K aircraft to enter combat service.

The war service record of this aircraft (serial number 44-12840) is unknown but in 1946, it was being flown by the Civil Air Patrol. It then, as so many Mustangs did, went into private ownership and several restorations until it was acquired by Tom Cruise in 2001.

It currently bears the markings of the 334th Fighter Squadron of the 65th Fighter Wing, 4th Fighter Group that was based in England during World War II.

"Top-Gun: Maverick" is still breaking box office records since its Memorial Day release and has become a global phenomenon. The film, a sequel to the 1986 hit “Top Gun” once again finds U.S. Navy Captain Pete “Maverick” Mitchell back in the skies with thrilling aerial sequences, including several with this P-51 aircraft.

Don't miss your chance to see this aircraft up close as it will only be on display until Labor Day. Planes of Fame is thrilled to have this aircraft on display and wishes to thank Tom Cruise for his generosity in allowing our visitors to see this fantastic aircraft up close.