Georg Raab

Feb 21

Please introduce yourself to us, and tell us about your aviation background.

My name is Georg Raab. Even as a child I stood at the fence of the American army airfield Hanau and watched the UH 1 helicopters and the OV 1 Mohawks. The virus was set. I started flying gliders as a 14-year-old. In 1980 I made my PPL A, in 1998 I bought my first vintage plane, a Boeing Stearman on which I have flown over 900 flight hours to date. In 2001, a Harvard IIb followed which I owned with 2 comrades, with which I flew for about 350 hours. In 2020, the purchase of the North American P 51 D "Frances Dell" followed. After the Mustang training with Frederic Vormezeele in Belgium in spring 2020, I flew about 55 hours with "Frances" until January 2022.

Could you tell us a bit about the aircraft you fly? It’s history?

My aeroplane is a 1944 built P-51D-30NA Mustang. It was stored from 1944 until 1950 when it was sold to the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). It was in service with the RCAF until 1959 when it was sold to a private civilian owner in the US. It had 10 different owners and was painted as „Glamorous Gal“ until 2011. Then Mr. Carl Patrick, the caretaker until 2019, decided to fully restore the Mustang and present in the colours of „Frances Dell“ as the plane of Lt. Col. Clark W. Clemmons of the 84th Fighter Squadron of the 78th Fighter Group. The 78th Fighter Group in the 8th Air Force of the US Army with its „Checkerboard“ P51 Mustang was based at the legendary airfield RAF Duxford in Cambridgeshire / UK.

How hard/easy is the Mustang to fly/display?

It depends on what you have flown and displayed before. You should have sufficient tailwheel experience. The basics should be made by using the Stearman, Tigermoth or Bücker Jungmann. Then the next step is the AT 6 Harvard. The best preparation and training for flying tailwheel warbirds is to fly the AT 6 Harvard
The Systems are quite complex but the handling of the aeroplane is very good. A stable fighter as the initial purpose of the P-51 promises. A demonstration in the P 51 Mustang in my point of view is easier than an aerobatic display with a 220 hp Stearman or a demonstration with the AT 6 Harvard. Both training aircraft lack engine power due to their relatively high weight. Performance that the P 51 Mustang has in abundance.
The P 51 simply flies cleanly and confidently through all positive aerobatic manoeuvres. The radii of the individual manoeuvres are much larger, the G forces last much longer than in the training aircraft. Nevertheless, rarely more than 3.5 g are "pulled". This protects the material. You have to keep in mind, the "Ladies" are now 75 to 80 years old.
All in all, I personally would prefer an aerobatic display in the P 51 to an aerobatic display in the Stearman and Harvard at any time.

Where can we see you perform this year?

Due to the Covid pandemic, only a few decisions are made.
-Historical Airshow, Mladá Boleslav, Czech Republic (18th of June)
-ILA Berlin, Berlin ExpoCenter Airport, Schönefeld, Germany (22-26 Jun)
-Stearman & Friends, Bienenfarm, Nauen, Germany (01-03 Jul)
We are also discussing with multiple other organizers the possible displays at the following events
-Festival letectva Piestany, Piestany Airport, Piestany, Slovakia (06-08 May)
-Midlands Air Festival, Ragley Hall, Alcester, Warwickshire, UK (02-04 Jun)
-Antidote Airshow Leszno, Leszno-Strzyzewice, Leszno, Poland (17-18 Jun)
-Royal International Air Tattoo, RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire, UK (15-17 Jul)
-Farnborough International Airshow, Farnborough, Hampshire, UK (18-22 Jul)

Why the name Frances Dell? Could you tell us a bit more about the history behind this name?

The Name „Frances Dell“ was the girlfriend’s name of Lt. Col. Clark W. Clemmons of the 84th Fighter Squadron of the 78th Fighter Group. When he arrived at Duxford he was 21 years old. The story tells that after the war, when he came home to the US, his girlfriend has left him for another man.

Where are you based? Is there any way to visit the hangar and see Frances Dell up close?

Our Homebase is at the Siegerland-Flughafen (Airport) EDGS inbetween Frankfurt and Cologne in Germany. To visit the Mustang and the team please contact us via our homepage.

Any other favourite warbird besides the Mustang?

Most probably the legendary Supermarine Spitfire Mk IX.

When you are not taking the sky, what is your favourite way to unwind and relax?

I love to read. Books about the history of aviation, the background of the technology used in the aircraft classics. In addition, I am a movie freak, but I also love series. Currently particularly popular with me are "Young Inspector Morse" and "Inspector Barnaby".

How hard is it to maintain a WWII aircraft? Where do you get the spare parts?

Maintenance is a very important topic in operating the Mustang in a safe and reliable way. We are very happy to have the well known and highly recommendable MeierMotors GmbH in southern Germany as our partner for maintenance and repairs. An excellent team full of know-how and passion.

Any airshow in Europe you would really like to display the Mustang at?

Any Airshow in the UK, especially at Duxford! Because„Frances Dell“ used to fly there in 1944-1945 during active duty.

Tell us your personal experience flying the Mustang? Any favourite memories?

My first official display in the P 51 was at the „Stearman fly in“ in Bienenfarm, Germany in 2021. The sunset display backed with the music of "An der schönen blauen Donau" by Johann Strauss is my absolute favourite. We called it the "Sunset waltz". Maybe I'm wrong, but I had the impression that even "Frances" "danced" a little more gracefully through the aerobatic manoeuvres.

What advice would you have for someone who after watching your display wants to learn to fly?

Chase your dreams! It is never too early or late to get involved in aviation and flying. Try to find a club or a flight school that you like and learn to fly! Read a lot about flying and listen to the right people to develop your way in aviation.
The entire aviation industry needs young talents. Keeping classics or warbirds airworthy is part of our history that must not be forgotten. Flying them is an invaluable privilege that requires humility, skill, respect and much more. Values that are increasingly being forgotten in today's modern world. Preserving, conveying and maintaining these values is part of our commitment beyond flying.
This obligation applies in particular to the pilots who risked their lives in the war in the planes we love so much, and who often enough lost their lives. So it's also about their legacy.

Thank you very much for your time! Any final words to our readers?

Uwe Rahmert, a well-known figure in the German airshow scene, summed it up aptly after my purchase of the P 51 D Mustang when he said "Georg is now living his dream". That's exactly how it is! I can only advise everyone: "live your dream". And best of all, you start it right away!
If you need an instruction manual, I have a tip. I read "Jonathan Livingston Seagull" over 40 years ago. And I can only tell you, that's exactly how it is!
Thank you very much for the interview. Please check out our Website and Facebook page.
Stay tuned for further actions. See you soon!