70% Of The Size, But Nearly 100% Of The Fun

Maria Morrison, ANN Senior Editor

Walking down rows of exhibits at AirVenture 2022, it’s easy to be drawn in by a beautiful replica of a P-51 outside the ScaleWings booth. It looks to be a perfect Mustang, just 70% smaller. But the SW-51 has another major difference from the WWII fighter: it’s made of carbon, not metal.

The two-seat, dual-control aircraft can fly at 155 kts at 5,000 feet, and is equipped with a turbocharged Rotax 915iS engine. A conversion to a BMW V12 is available as well.

ScaleWings’ mission is to design, manufacture, and sell the world’s most iconic scaled replica aircraft with unique design features and full carbon composite materials. This endeavor began more than 30 years ago near the German-Austrian border, when designer Hans Schwoeller built beautiful remote control aircraft with keen attention to detail. Although the RC models were full carbon, they looked like they were constructed with riveted aluminum.

Schwoeller was soon convinced to move from RC aircraft to manned ones. When deciding which iconic warbird to scale down for a piloted craft, it was put up to a vote. The masses online were clear: they wanted the P-51 Mustang.

There are more than 100,000 individual fine details in the SW-51 mold that make it match up with the mustang. Handmade indentations create each “rivet” in the carbon aircraft.

“It is the best of both worlds,” said ScaleWings CEO Christian von Kessel said. “It has the composite technology used in F-22s, F-35s and Dreamliners, but the classic aluminum look of the warbird.”

The cost comparison is no question. Whereas original P-51s run for roughly $3 million, if you can even get your hands on one, the SW-51 kits sell for $186,000, not including the avionics, engine, or propeller. As von Kessel put it, the SW-51 is less than 10% of the cost with nearly 100% of the fun.

The quick-build, which began selling in 2021, comes with pre-fabricated parts. The fuselage consists only of a right and left half, which get glued together.

ScaleWings has sold 9 kits so far, and requested orders are lining up. The first custom SW-51 was completed just a few recently in Europe and will be flying in a few weeks.

ScaleWings is headquartered 40NM east of Munich International Airport. Although the kit is “frustration-free,” von Kessel said, that’s quite the distance for an American buyer with a pressing question. To provide on-the-ground assistance, ScaleWings has partnered with Titan Aircraft to create a builder assistance program.

Through the new program, John Williams and his team at Titan Aircraft can help new owners through the process of building their Mustang. The SW-51 differs from Titan’s T-51, a 3/4 scale replica of the Mustang, primarily in the fact that one is carbon while the other is metal. Regardless, the technical expertise that the Titan team has will be helpful no matter what.

FMI: www.ScaleWings.com