INDIANA, PA, May 5, 2025- Keith Rearick, Treasurer of The Jimmy Stewart Airport, is excited to announce that Jimmy Stewart’s refurbished P-51 Mustang will be at The Jimmy Stewart Airport on

May 15-18, before it heads to the Smithsonian. Owned by celebrity and WWII bomber pilot Jimmy Stewart, this P-51 Mustang won the Bendix Trophy in a transcontinental race in 1949. It was flown by

Joe DeBona and the staggering average speed of 470 mph, set a Bendix record for piston airplanes. This plane has a fascinating history. It was also owned by Jacqueline Cochran, who flew it to two Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI) World Records and a U.S. National Aeronautic Association record as well. She pioneered women's aviation as one of the most prominent racing pilots of her generation. She was the first woman to break the sound barrier in 1953. Later in 1953, it was used to fly the footage of The Coronation of Elizabeth II across the Atlantic so that CBS and NBC could have the footage to air in the United States as soon as possible. The P-51 was refurbished by pilot and current owner Warren Piestch. He will be flying the plane to Indiana, PA, and will be at the Jimmy Stewart Airport to showcase the Mustang and answer any questions about the plane. The public can view the P-51 Mustang for free in the hangar at The Jimmy Stewart Airport on Friday, May 16, from 2-4 pm, Saturday, May 17, from 11 am-2 pm, and on Sunday, May 18, from 1 pm-3 pm. This is all a part of the weekend activities celebrating The Jimmy Stewart Museum’s 30th Anniversary and Jimmy Stewart’s Birthday. The Museum will be debuting a new rotating exhibit all about the P-51 Mustang, and it will run through the end of August. For more information on the rest of the weekend events, call The Jimmy Stewart Museum at 724-349-6112.