Mustang Engine Collection: Allison 12 Cylinder Engine, Rolls Royce Merlin Engine, Griffon Engine
The museum was in possession of a Rolls Royce Merlin besides one recently completed for the Kosciusko project. We also had an Allison 12 cylinder such as the P-51 was originally built with. In addition we had in storage a Rolls Royce Griffon, another 12 cylinder V design. Both the Allison and the Merlin were used in the Mustang and the Griffon in the Supermarine Spitfire. Additionally, the Griffon has been used postwar in several racing configurations in the Mustang up to the present.
It was decided to restore the three engines to incorporate them into one display with the P-51 Mustang as the focal point, along with storyboards explaining the relevance of both the aircraft and the engines and their contributions to the war effort.
So far our engine shop has completed the restoration of the Merlin, which is on display in the Civilian hangar next to the P-51 Mustang, and the Allison, which is currently stored in the Restoration hangar. We are midway through the restoration of the large Rolls Royce Griffon engine.
