Robin Olds’ P-51 Mustang Flies In A Heritage Formation With 52nd FW F-16C Jets

Scat VII, a P-51 Mustang once flown by triple-ace fighter pilot Robin Olds, flies along an F-16C Fighting Falcon assigned to the 480th Fighter Squadron, Spangdahlem Air Base, May 28, 2019. The plane is the last one Olds flew before the end of WWII and is one of the only flying examples of the aircraft in Europe. Olds flew in both WWII and the Vietnam War, scoring a total of 16 air-to-air victories over the course of his career. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Roidan Carlson)

The plane, named Scat VII, was flown by the iconic triple-ace fighter pilot during WW2.

On May 28, 2019, the restored P-51 Mustang once flown by Brig. Gen. Robin Olds visited Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany. The plane attended an event which saw also the participation of Robin Old’s daughter, Christina.

Robin Olds (1922-2007) was a triple-ace fighter pilot that flew in both WWII and the Vietnam War, scoring a total of 16 air-to-air victories by the end of his career. The P-51 that arrived to Spangdahlem, named SCAT VII, was his seventh airplane and the last one he flew in World War II. It was restored and is still flying around Europe in the same color scheme it had nearly 75 years ago.

Scat VII, a P-51 Mustang once flown by triple-ace fighter pilot Robin Olds, flies along an F-16C Fighting Falcon assigned to the 480th Fighter Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Roidan Carlson)

Gen. Olds is also known for his impressive achievements as Commander of the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing who cared for his Airmen and as skilled F-4 pilot during the Vietnam war. He expressed his philosophy regarding fighter pilots in the quote: “There are pilots and there are pilots; with the good ones, it is inborn. You can’t teach it. If you are a fighter pilot, you have to be willing to take risks”.



About Stefano D'Urso
Stefano D'Urso is a freelance journalist and contributor to TheAviationist based in Lecce, Italy. A graduate in Industral Engineering he's also studying to achieve a Master Degree in Aerospace Engineering. Electronic Warfare, Loitering Munitions and OSINT techniques applied to the world of military operations and current conflicts are among his areas of expertise.