Based on a North American P-51D-30 Mustang airframe, Dago Red was built up by Bill ‘Tiger’ Destefani and Mike Nixon of Vintage V-12s in 1981. On its very first outing at Reno in 1982 the aeroplane took the Unlimited Gold Championship title. Dago Red has a built-up turtlecleck, extensively clipped and faired-in wings and a specially tuned Merlin engine built by Mike Nixon. This runs on 140-octane fuel injected with liquid manganese, with an alcohol/water mix and nitrous oxide introduced further down the induction system.
Dago Red has seen many owners, including Bill Destefani, Alan Preston and David Price. The aeroplane held the world straight-line speed record for piston-engined aircraft at 517.06 mph.
Dago Red
Span: clipped considerably from 11.89 m (37 ft 0.25 in)
Length: 9.83 m (32 ft 3 in)
Powerplant: 1 x Packard VA 650-9 Merlin, about 2610 kW (3,500 hp)
Max TO weight: about 3402 kg (7,500 lb)
Max speed: 517.06 mph at low altitude
All Aero 