When Uncle Sugar sent me on an all expense paid trip to the wilds of Panama long long ago, the P-51 and some F-86's were the "Air Force" of most of the Central and South American countries. Got to see 'em buzzing around almost every day for 18 months. They were the only things missed when I came home...I still miss 'em.<br><br>Last year I visited the March ANG (former AFB) base museum in CA, where they have one of the few (if not the only???) still flying P-38's left in the world. And it too is polished aluminum...didn't get to see it fly tho, sniff sniff...