Sorry 'bout the time lapse, been really busy so I figured I'd push a couple out really quickly today...

The other day I was pre-flighting 4CM for another IFR training flight (yes, I'm STILL not done) and I look up when I hear over clearance (which I was listening to on the handheld radio) Mustang 151Tango Foxtrot calling for VFR departure clearance. Not being a call sign I hear everyday at SNA, I figured I'd keep my eyes open. What I SHOULD have done was get my camera out as it was none other than "Tempus Fugit", a P51-D Mustang.

I didn't get my camera out until after it had taken off and was climbing out. Gotta love it! I was talking with one of the refuelers from Atlantic who said the owner of the plane was taking Nicolas Cage up for a ride but I have no way to confirm this. Just a short jump out to Dana Point and back it appeared from their clearance. I was able to get some more pictures with the little point-and-shoot camera that I had with me as they taxied back in from their flight.

As Ron (my instructor) and I were doing our runup checks in the mid-field run-up, we heard the Mustang talking to tower before taking off for another pleasure flight. No sense rushing the run-up check any... Tower asked the Mustang if he could accommodate 19L (the shorter of the two runways) and he declined. As nice as it would have been to have him take off almost right over us, it was probably just as well as he lifted of 19R abeam our position so we got a good view. Unfortunately, I didn't have the camera out for that as I was busy setting up for our flight.

I guess time really does fly (Tempus Fugit), especially when you are flying such a beautiful old warbird as this.