P-51C
Lope’s Hope the 3^rd

GRAND CHAMPION | EAA AIRVENTURE 2018

ABOUT LOPE’S HOPE

Lope’s Hope 3rd was 42-103585, a P-51C-5NT Mustang assigned to Lieutenant Donald Lopez. At the time he was assigned to the 75th Squadron of the 23rd Fighter Group, 14th Air Force. Lt. Lopez had 1 damaged and one confirmed victory in Lope’s Hope 3rd and 5 confirmed victories overall.

HISTORY

Lope’s Hope 3rd was a P-51C flown by Lt. Donald Lopez. Donald and Lope’s Hope 3rd served in the China-Burma-India theater with the 14th Air Force, 23rd Fighter Group, 75th Squadron. The 23rd Fighter Group was the descendent of the famous American Volunteer Group or Flying Tigers after the US entered the war…Read More

SEE FULL HISTORY

NORTH AMERICAN P-51C MUSTANG SPECIFICATIONS

BUILT: Dallas, TX
ENGINE: Rolls-Royce “Merlin” V-1650-7 Liquid cooled, fuel injected V-12 inline. 1800 hp @ 3000rpm
PROPELLER: Hamilton Standard, 11’2 inch 4 blade (hydraulic)
ARMAMENT: 4 x .50 Caliber Machine Guns 2 x 500 lb. Bombs
LENGTH: 32'
HEIGHT: 13' 8''
WINGSPAN: 37'
EMPTY WEIGHT: 6,985 lbs
MAX WEIGHT: 11,800 lbs
RANGE: 1,900 miles with drop tanks 1,180 miles internal tanks
SERVICE CEILING: 41,800 ft
MAX SPEED: 439 mph @ 29,000 ft
CLIMB PERFORMANCE: to 10,000ft. 3.1 min., to 20,000 ft. 6.9 min.

WATCH OUR VIDEO

“Cockpit 360 view”

By: Lyle Jansma | AeroCapture Images

Dakota Territory Museum

Lope’s Hope 3rd is housed at the Dakota Territory Museum.
Located in Minot, North Dakota.

LEARN MORE

In Honor of Lt. Donald S. Lopez

WWII Ace & Deputy Director National Air & Space Museum July 15, 1923 - March 3, 2008

“

“The beauty of the clouds and the sun was surpassed only by the shadows of the airplanes on the clouds surrounded by a rainbow halo. If I had to do only one thing for the rest of my life, I think that would be it. It was what heaven should be like for fighter pilots.”

Donald S. Lopez, Into the Teeth of the Tiger

READ FULL HISTORY