North American P-51 Mustang (N2869D)

North American P-51D Mustang (N2869D, ex USAAF 44-84390)
"Bardahl Special"
.............
Right back where it started. This Mustang, named "Bardahl Special," raced in the very first Reno Air Races, held at the Sky Ranch in Reno in 1964.
It returned to the Reno Air Races last year and will participate again this weekend as Race 3 in the Unlimited Class of the "Final Flag" races (this weekend will be the last time the National Championship Air Races will be held at Stead Airport in Reno).
.............
"Bardahl Special" is the overwhelming favorite of the pre-event crowd to win the last-ever Reno Air Races Unlimited Class Gold Medal. If "Bardahl Special" does win the Gold, the Rolls Royce power plant seen in this photo is the engine that will have made N2869D's 59 year trip back to the R.A. Races a Gold Medal triumph!