P-51D “Frances Dell” Debut at Hahnweide 2025 | Full Display + Onboard Views

P-51D “Frances Dell” Soars Again

The unmistakable roar of a Packard-Merlin V-1650-7 engine filled the air at the Hahnweide Oldtimer Fliegertreffen 2025, as the P-51D Mustang “Frances Dell” made its debut under the skilled hands of Bernhard “Bernie” Diehl.

Part of the Flying Legends Collection, the aircraft put on a breathtaking aerobatic display — its polished aluminum gleaming against a backdrop of rolling countryside.

The video captures the Mustang starting up, taxiing out, and then tearing into the sky with graceful loops, sharp rolls, and powerful low passes. Onboard cockpit footage offers a rare pilot’s-eye view, immersing viewers in the thrill of flight and the unmistakable growl of the Merlin engine.

Originally built in 1944 at North American Aviation’s Inglewood factory, “Frances Dell” served with the Royal Canadian Air Force before spending decades in private hands. Painstakingly restored by Midwest Aero, it now wears the checkerboard livery of the 84th Fighter Squadron, honoring Lt. Clark Clemons and the pilots who flew from Duxford during WWII.

Awarded “Best Restored P-51 Mustang” at EAA AirVenture 2019, “Frances Dell” continues to embody the beauty and spirit of the Mustang — not as a relic, but as a living legend still commanding the skies.