The Falconar SAL P-51D Mustang is a specialized homebuilt aircraft designed as a scale replica of the legendary North American P-51D Mustang. Rather than being a certified production aircraft, the SAL P-51D was marketed by Falconar Avia, a Canadian company based in Edmonton, Alberta, which provided the necessary plans and kits for private builders to construct the aircraft in their own workshops. The design is attributed to Falconar Avia, though the specific individual designer for this model is not explicitly documented in available records, although the company was led by Chris Falconar.
Designed to offer a "taste of the warbird experience" in a smaller and more approachable package, the aircraft features several technical complexities uncommon in basic homebuilt designs. Notably, the aircraft utilizes retractable landing gear and electrically operated flaps. While the original military P-51D relied on the powerful Rolls-Royce Merlin engine, the Falconar replica is adapted for automotive-based powerplants. One documented example, completed in 1998, is powered by a 350-cubic-inch Chevrolet piston engine driving a Hartzell three-blade propeller. This specific aircraft also features a fuel capacity of 30 gallons.
Because the Falconar SAL P-51D is an experimental homebuilt aircraft, there is no centralized production record or official first-flight date for the type. The total number of aircraft built remains unknown, though public evidence suggests a very small population. The aircraft has no military service history, as it is a civil recreational vehicle; any wartime association is strictly limited to the original North American design it replicates.
In the civil sector, the aircraft serves as a niche recreational vehicle for warbird enthusiasts. A 1998 example with 600 airframe hours was previously offered for sale at a price of $145,000. The legacy of the Falconar SAL P-51D lies in its role within the homebuilt-warbird trend, allowing pilots to operate a visually striking aircraft with lower acquisition and operating costs than a full-scale vintage fighter.