is a staple of the The highly modified P-51’s striking yellow and polished paint job and its contra-rotating propellers are features that make it stand out, but the sights and especially sounds of its supped Merlin engine during a test run equates to a visceral crescendo of delight and amazement for anyone who loves mechanics and things that go really, really fast.

Top video and one above courtesy of master photographer Mike Killian, check out more of his work over on his, you will be amazed.

Flames, grunts, putters and the steadying hum of startup are followed by a settling yet increasingly violent roar as Precious Metal’s engine output increases.

Then there’s that propeller that seems more like it was meant to conquer medieval cities than claw a plane through the air at 500 mph just 50 feet over the desert floor.

Unlimited Air Racing teams that fly Mustangs take Rolls Royce Merlin V-12 Engines (or the up-sized of the Merlin in the case of Precious Metal), considered holy by many and priced accordingly, and pump their horsepower up by almost twice that of stock. This, along with fine-tuning the perfect propeller, and constantly clipping and streamlining the Mustang’s already sleek airframe and adapting its flight controls accordingly, is all in an attempt to make it around an 8.2 mile course a little faster.

Unlimited air racing remains the fastest racing sport in the world, and Precious Metal along with a gaggle of racing icons are about to go to war over Make it if you can; it is one of the most amazing spectacles you will ever see and hear.

Update note: Made change to mention the Griffon engine configuration with contra-rotating propellers on Precious Metal.

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