15/11/2025
Its our turn to give you a little seasonal gift, with the announcement that we will be welcoming Isabel Rutland to the 2026 Midlands Air Festival in her P51D Mustang Marinell.
This stunning aircraft is a true warbird, having taken down two FW190 and two BF109’s in her short 45 days of active service before being shot down herself. The name Marinell comes from the wife of the first pilot to fly the aircraft operationally, Captain Bradford V. Stevens of the 504th Fighter Squadron.
This Mustang is powered by a Rolls-Royce V-1650 Merlin, producing 1490HP and a top speed of 437mph. Armed with six Browning 50cal heavy machine guns and two 1,000lb bombs when required.
The P51 was a true game changer and is said to have changed the course of the war in Europe with its ability to es**rt the allies daylight bombing raids deep into enemy territory.
Isabel is a professional warbird and aerobatic pilot and also holds an ATPL airline pilot licence. This will be one of our new displays for 2026 as neither Isabel or Marinell have displayed at the Midlands Air Festival before. It will be truly spectacular display in the close up and intimate surroundings of the historic Ragley Hall Estate, especially when you hear that spine chilling banshee wail that the Mustang is famous for. Guaranteed to raise the hairs on the back of your neck!
Tickets are already on sale and make remarkably good Christmas presents even if we do say so ourselves. www.midlandsairfestival.com. (By the way, can you help us to spread the good news simply by pressing SHARE)
