John Early, right, prepares to fly his P-51 Mustang in the company of flight instructor Mike Schlarb on Saturday morning at the Durango-La Plata County Airport. The airplane is one of 123 in the United States, according to a registry.STEVE LEWIS/Durango Herald -

John Early, top left, talks about his P-51 Mustang on Saturday morning at the Durango-La Plata County Airport.STEVE LEWIS/Durango Herald -

John Early said the “checker tail clan” paint scheme on the tail of the plane originates from a fighter group in the Mediterranean theater during World War II. “Herky Green, who the plane’s dedicated to, was the top ace in the Mediterranean,” Early said. STEVE LEWIS/Durango Herald -

John Early prepares to take off in his P-51 Mustang on Saturday morning at the Durango-La Plata County Airport.STEVE LEWIS/Durango Herald -

John Early said the “checker tail clan” paint scheme on the tail of the plane originates from a fighter group in the Mediterranean theater during World War II. STEVE LEWIS/Durango Herald -

John Early prepares to take off in his P-51 Mustang on Saturday morning at the Durango-La Plata County Airport.STEVE LEWIS/Durango Herald -

John Early prepares to take off in his P-51 Mustang on Saturday morning at the Durango-La Plata County Airport.STEVE LEWIS/Durango Herald -

John Early and flight instructor Mike Schlarb fly Early’s P-51 Mustang on Saturday morning at the Durango-La Plata County Airport. The airplane is one of 123 in the United States, according to a registry.STEVE LEWIS/Durango Herald -