The Young Eagles Auction is part of the EAA Gathering of Eagles at the EAA AirVenture Museum.
A one-shot Mustang GT will be sold at the Gathering of Eagles charity auction during the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) 2011 AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The Blue Angels Mustang pays tribute to 100 years of naval aviation, which will be celebrated all week at AirVenture 2011, arguably the biggest gathering of aviation enthusiasts in the world.
The exterior of Mustang GT was inspired by the Blue Angels naval aviation performance demonstration team and the F-18 Hornet aircraft it flies. The car’s custom rear spoiler’s vertical tailfins, the “screaming yellow” gloss accents, inclusion of the Blue Angels script and crest all are drawn from the Navy aircraft. The unique chrome blue paint, from Creations n’ Chrome, is said by Ford to be unlike anything available on a production vehicle anywhere in the world.
“Ford is a longtime supporter of EAA and our mission to showcase the finest innovation and technology in flight,” said Tom Poberezny, EAA chairman.
Inside, a Blue Angels crest is stitched into leather Recaro racing seats. The Mustang GT’s interior also features offset stripes like pilot flight suits. Additional unique details of the Blue Angels Mustang include cluster graphics, performance gauges, navigation screen images, safety belt fabric, instrument panel appliqués, rear seat-delete and cross-brace, Blue Angels script in the illuminated sill plates and puddle lamps that project jet images when the doors open.
Under the hood, is a supercharged 5.0-liter V8 engine producing 624 horsepower. The Ford Racing components also include a handling pack, performance exhaust and racetrack brakes.
All proceeds from the car donation and sale will benefit the EAA Young Eagles organization, which has provided free introductory flights to more than 1.6 million young people since 1992 while also teaching the value of hard work, personal responsibility and enhanced math and science skills.
“The precision, discipline and excitement that define the U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels flight team are qualities we celebrate at Ford,” said Edsel B. Ford II, a member of Ford’s board of directors.
