A former Uruguayan Air Force North American P-51 Mustang is reaching the end of an extensive restoration that will return it to flying condition performed by the award winning P-51 specialist firm, Midwest Aero of Danville, Illinois.
The machine, 44-63577 is one of 25 of its type that were supplied to the Fuerza Aerea Uruguaya in the early 1950s and was allocated the registration number FAU285 for its use as a fighter-bomber. By the end of the decade the Mustangs were replaced by Lockheed P-80 Shooting Stars and eight of the Mustangs were sold to Boliva in 1960 for the nominal price of $1 each. FAU285 was not sold to the Bolivians and was instead sent to the Miseo de Aeronautica in Uruguay’s capital city of Montevideo where it resided until 1985 when it was sold to a collector in the United States. The plane passed through the hands of several owners before being acquired by Jon Vesely of Inverness, Illinois who sent the plane for its restoration. It is expected that the plane will once again return to the skies sometime this year.
Born in Milan, Italy, Moreno moved to the U.S. in 1999 to pursue a career as a commercial pilot. His aviation passion began early, inspired by his uncle, an F-104 Starfighter Crew Chief, and his father, a military traffic controller. Childhood adventures included camping outside military bases and watching planes at Aeroporto Linate. In 1999, he relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, to obtain his commercial pilot license, a move that became permanent. With 24 years in the U.S., he now flies full-time for a Part 91 business aviation company in Atlanta. He is actively involved with the Commemorative Air Force, the D-Day Squadron, and other aviation organizations. He enjoys life with his supportive wife and three wonderful children.
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