This is a repaint for the P-51D Mustang included in the full version of the Reno Air Races expansion for MSFS 2020, as well as the P-51D included by default in MSFS 2024. This repaint depicts the restored P-51D Mustang USAAF Ser. No. 45-11525, registered as N151AF, named "Val-Halla", owned and operated by the Heritage Flight Museum based at Skagit Airport near Burlington, Washington. The Heritage Flight Museum was founded by Apollo 8 Astronaut Maj. General Bill Anders.

This repaint has been specially refined for use with the excellent Improvement Mod by Randall Snow, available here.

This repaint features an almost complete reworking of the original product textures, and includes all new cockpit, wheel well, landing gear and landing gear door textures, all custom to match the real aircraft with the correct colors and other details. Just about every effort has been made to make this an accurate depiction of the real aircraft.

This aircraft was manufactured at the North American Aviation Dallas, TX plant in the summer of 1945 as P-51D-30-NT USAAF Ser. No. 45-11525. As one of the last D-model Mustangs produced, it was delivered far too late to see combat assignment during World War Two. In the post-war years it served with the Indonesian Air Force and was eventually recovered from Indonesia in 1978 by Stephen Johnson, of Oakland, CA. Brought back to the US, it was sold to John MacGuire in 1982 and became part of his War Eagles Air Museum, located in Santa Teresa, NM, where it underwent an intial restoration as "The Silver Ghost", registered as N91JB. Around 1995 the Mustang was acquired by Apollo 8 Astronaut Maj. General Bill Anders, and the aircraft underwent a subsequent restoration by Pena Olivas. In 1996, Bill Anders and his wife, Valerie, founded the Heritage Flight Museum (HFM), and the Mustang became the first asset they donated to the new museum. Following restoration, it was decided to paint the P-51 in the markings of the 57th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, known as the "Black Knights", the unit that Bill Anders himself had served with in 1958, flying F-89 Scorpions. During the 1950s, the unit was based in Keflavik, Iceland to serve in the role of air defense during the Cold War. Aircraft of the USAF based in this region were painted with large sections of high-visibility "arctic red" (insignia red) on the wings and tail, for in-case if forced down it would aid in search-and-rescue efforts. The name "Val-Halla" was chosen to honor Bill's wife and museum co-founder, Valerie. "Val-Halla" is of course Viking heaven, and according to the HFM's website, the name also reflects the fond memories Bill Anders has had for the time he spent in Iceland and the year he spent as the US Ambassador to Norway. Bill Anders raced the Mustang at Reno in 1997, '98 and '99, as race #68 (commemorating the year, 1968, that he went to the moon aboard Apollo 8). Today, Bill's son, Lt. Col. Greg Anders, is the regular pilot of "Val-Halla", and they can be seen participating in airshows around the western United States, including as part of the USAF Heritage Flight Foundation.

The re-release/update of this repaint is done so in memory of Maj. General Bill Anders, and fullest respect to the Anders and Heritage Flight Museum family.

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P-51D Mustang Val-Halla (N151AF)

This add-on provides a detailed custom repaint for the P-51D Mustang, depicting the restored aircraft "Val-Halla" (N151AF) from the Heritage Flight Museum. It features newly reworked textures for the cockpit, wheel wells, and landing gear to closely match the real aircraft. The repaint is compatible with the P-51D in both the Reno Air Races expansion for MSFS 2020 and MSFS 2024. Historical background and tribute details are included, honoring Maj. General Bill Anders and the aircraft's unique legacy.

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