Gander and Area Chamber of Commerce Aviation Dollars
2010 Aviation DollarNorth American P-51 Mustang

First flight of prototype October 26, 1940. One of the most celebrated and recognizable World War II fighter aircraft, it is still in civilian use today. Designed in the U.S., but to meet specific British demands, the Mustang was designed, built and airborne in just 117 days. It was an immediate success and even outperformed the famed Super marine Spitfire which fought in the Battle of Britain. The Mustangs escorted bombers to Berlin and their extended range led to use in the Pacific theatre. It also fought in the Korean War and by the mid-1960s had developed such a proud and romantic public image that it inspired the Ford Mustang sports car.