In January 1984 a team of specialists, led by the late Dave Zeuschel of Zeuschel Racing Engines, was set up to build a new racing aircraft from scratch based on a North American Mustang airframe but with the underbelly scoop deleted. Using information and data from an earlier Mustang – a 1940s racer – it was decided to install slimmer radiators in the now-redundant gun bays, with air drawn through three flush inlets in the wing leading edges (one starboard and two port). The Zeuschel team set a target of 2268 kg (5,000 lb) for Stiletto, and achieved this target. With its clipped wings, wing-encompassed radiators, low profile cockpit canopy, low-drag airframe and custom-built Merlin engine, the bare-metal Stiletto was a racer.
Stiletto
Span: clipped from 11.89 m (37 ft 0.25 in)
Length: 9.83 m (32 ft 3 in)
Powerplant: 1 x Packard V-1650 Merlin, about 2535 kW (3,400 hp)
Max TO weight: about 2608 kg (5,750 lb)
Max speed: 375+ mph at low altitude
All Aero 