02/28/2014. Remarks by Walter van Tilborg: "The Thunder Mustang was an original design high performance aircraft for amateur construction and featured an all-composite construction. The scale replica of the WW II North American P-51 Mustang fighter was designed under the leadership of Dan Denney and Martin Hollman and was marketed in kit form by Papa 51 Ltd Co. The aircraft was designed around the Falconer V-12 engine developed from the GM GTP six-cylinder engine by Ryan Falconer and it was transformed into a V-12 block.

The prototype Thunder Mustang, registered N151TM (c/n TMD-9607-001) first flew on November 16, 1996, but this aircraft was lost in a fatal accident on May 30, 1998. A second aircraft, which was the first kit-built example (by Tommy Rose) made the first flight in 1999, registered N7TR (c/n GHTM002).

Papa 51 Ltd ceased operations in December 2000 and its activities were then continued by TBG (Thunder Builder Group, LLC), established by several builders of the Thunder Mustang. By mid-2005 some eight Thunder Mustang aircraft had been completed and flown, including one aircraft in New Zealand (by the Kiwi Thunder Group Ltd) and one in Brazil.

On June 4, 2003 John Parker set several FAI Class C1c speed records. In September 2010 it was announced by TBG that Dean Hold Construction, LLC was acquired to assume responsibility for further production.

Presently 21 aircraft have been built, including the pictured aircraft, which was built by Frederick Roschner in 2011."