page_title: Precious Metal (aircraft)
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Precious Metal (aircraft) / History
caption_attribution_description: Reno88-3
context_page_description: Precious Metal is a custom-built racing aircraft based on the North American P-51 Mustang.
context_section_description: Precious Metal made its first flight on August 10, 1988, with the race number 9.  It made its debut at the Reno Air Races on September 12 of that year.  The plane shared its name, race number, and registration with Whittington's other P-51 race plane, leading many to believe that it was the same aircraft.  During a qualifying run, the aircraft achieved a speed of 453 mph (729 km/h), the highest recorded qualifying speed at the time.  However, its success would be short lived, as during the race the aircraft suffered an engine failure and was forced to make a belly landing.
  Following the race, Precious Metal was taken to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for repairs.  The P-51H tail was removed and refitted to the original Precious Metal, while the Griffon-powered Precious Metal was fitted with a standard P-51D tail.  In April 1989, the aircraft was officially registered N6WJ, with its type designation being P-51XR.
  The aircraft was supposed to be flown by Bill Whittington in the 1993 Reno Air Races, but it never appeared at the race.  It finally made an appearance in the 1995 Reno Air Races with the race number 38.  For this race, the tall P-51H tail was once again fitted, but the aircraft did not carry the Precious Metal name, instead racing as the "World Jet" P-51.  Don Whittington came first in the Unlimited Silver Class race, but forfeited his win to race in the Gold class, coming sixth.
  Don Whittington lost interest in air racing following the death of Gary Levitz in 1999 and put Precious Metal in storage.  Levitz, a friend of Whittington, died during the Reno Air Races when his own Griffon-powered Mustang, Miss Ashley II, broke up in flight.  In 2000, Precious Metal was bought by Ron Buccarelli, who intended to return the aircraft to Reno in 2001.  The 2001 Reno Air Races were canceled following the September 11 attacks, but Precious Metal returned to Reno the following year.  Buccarelli described flying Precious Metal as a "handful", in contrast Rare Bear, which he had a chance to fly in 2006.
  In 2011, Precious Metal was sold to Thom Richard, who made several modifications to the aircraft, including a feathering pump.  Richard was not able to race that year, as the Reno Air Races were canceled after the fatal crash of The Galloping Ghost.  In 2012, Richard flew Precious Metal in the Gold Class race, but he did not finish because one of the landing gear doors came off in flight.
  After many new modifications, Precious Metal returned to Reno in 2013.  The modifications included a new streamlined canopy, many carbon fiber parts to reduce weight, as well as many modifications to the engine to bring it up to 3,200 hp.  Thom Richard placed fifth in the Gold Class that year.
  Precious Metal was heavily damaged by a fire days before the 2015 Reno Air Races.  One of the ground crew noticed the fire while the aircraft was taxiing and signaled Richard to shut down the engine.  Richard shut down the engine and escaped the aircraft, which burned for 12 minutes before firefighters arrived to the scene.  It took 20 minutes to put out the fire, and by that time the airframe had sustained severe damage.  After the fire, Richard stated that Precious Metal would not race again.  A lengthy restoration process of Precious Metal to airworthy condition began in 2016.
caption: Precious Metal during the 1988 Reno Air Races with its original P-51H tail.
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