There are three things that most warbird fans absolutely love. Those are Mustangs, Mustangs and Mustangs. This book has all of that in droves. For stats, it is 176 pages,  8½ x11, softbound, and contains 250 images, the vast majority of them in color.

It starts off with the usual introductory "I'd like to thank...." as well as a forward by a noted Mustang-ologist and a page on web resources for Mustang warbirds.

The initial chapter concerns where the airframes come from. Most are ex-military (both US and foreign), though some have been rescued from playgrounds or farmer's barns or wrecks. This is followed by chapters on the importance of proper engineering drawings and the Warbird restoration industry. And industry it is. There are lots of people who can afford these kinds of planes and of all the extant WWII planes around, I'd say the P-51 is in the vast majority. Face it, to have one of these planes, a million bucks needs to be pocket change as that is what it takes to get one flying.

Next is a section on engines, then painting and finishing followed by a chapter on insurance(!). The requisite section on the joys of ownership as seen by several noted Mustang owners is followed by what it is like to fly one of these aircraft.

Finally, 72 pages into things, we get to the section that really interested me, the final section on Surviving Aircraft (you know, the title of the book). Now I haven't counted how many planes are in this section, but I'd say at least 50 if not more. This includes not only planes that are flying, but those in museums, those on display at various air bases (and you should read the decry of the author concerning the shameful lack of concern by the owners having them on display rather than letting them be restored) and those undergoing restoration. The listing is alpha-numeric starting with the aircraft type and then going by serial or constructor number.

What really makes this an interesting book to me is that sheer number and quality of the photographs in it. It is interesting to see a specific plane being used as, say, an air racer in 1946, and then turned into a warbird or even further modified even more to gain more speed. Some old racers have even been restored to their previous racing livery. I also found it most interesting to see how little attention had been paid to the accuracy of the markings on some planes. Sure, the guy has spend a mil or two on the plane so he can paint it the way he wants, but as a modeler, I'd like to see them more accurately done. Fortunately, most of these folks have the sense to get the details right the first time. I should also mention in passing, that while the vast majority of the planes are in the US, those overseas are also included, though most in that category are museum or display-only aircraft.

I know that this review may sound a bit flippant and truly, I do think that, like Unlimited Hydroplane racing, warbird ownership is only for the really wealthy. Those of us making $15,000 a year wouldn't be able to pay for the insurance, much less anything else on one of these planes. Yet it is encouraging to know that there are those out there who care enough to use that excess cash to keep something like the Mustang in the air for all who attend air shows to hear and enjoy.

If your interests are in war birds in general and Mustangs in particular, and you want to know about what it takes to restore one of these beauties as well as who has what, then this is a book that I know you will enjoy.

Review book courtesy of , where you can order your copy of this and many other superb aviation and modeling books.

If you would like your product reviewed fairly and quickly by a site that has over 200,000 visitors a month, please contact me or see other details in the Note to Contributors.