Built in 1944 with the US military serial 44-10947 Sold off in February 1946 as part of a purchase of 475 aircraft by Paul Mantz. He converted the aircraft with additional fuel tanks in the wings and used it to win the 1946 and 1947 Bendix Trophy races. In 1947 Paul Mantz also used the Mustang to set coast-to-coast speed records in both East and West bound directions. Flown by a different pilot it would then come 2nd in the 1948 Bendix Trophy race and 3rd in 1949 race. It was sold to Charles F. Blair in May 1950, who named it ‘Excalibur III’ and prepared it for an attempt at a round-the-world flight. The Korean War made the flight impossible, but on 31st January 1951 Blair flew it from New York to London in only 7 hours and 48 minutes, this was a new record and one which still stands today for a piston-engined aircraft. His return flight to the United States, on 29th May 1951, was even more remarkable. Departing from Bardufoss, Norway, he carried out the first ever Trans-Polar flight and arrived at Fairbanks, Alaska, some 10 hours and 27 minutes later. Blair had developed a new method of navigation using sunlines and completed the flight without any radio navigation aids, communications or even emergency landing grounds. For this achievement he was awarded the Harmon International Trophy, which was presented to him by President Harry Truman. Even his return flight from Fairbanks was notable, as it was the first transcontinental solo flight of the Alaska – Canadian route to New York. In November 1953, at Blairs suggestion, Excalibur III was purchased by Pan American and then donated to the Smithsonian Institute. Restored in 1977, it was loaned to the California Museum of Science & Industry from 1983 to 2001 but has now returned to Washington and is seen on display in the Steven F. Udvar Hazy Center as part of the National Air and Space Museum. Washington Dulles International Airport, Chantilly, Virginia