North American P-51 Mustang

1940

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North American P-51 Mustang

On of the best fighters of the World War II. The first prototype flew on October 26, 1940. Entered production in 1941 and a total of 15386 aircraft were built in the USA.

North American P-51 Mustang

Specification 
 MODELP-51D
 CREW1
 ENGINE1 x Packard Merlin V-1650-7, 1264kW
 WEIGHTS
  Take-off weight5488 kg12099 lb
  Empty weight3232 kg7125 lb
 DIMENSIONS
  Wingspan11.28 m37 ft 0 in
  Length9.83 m32 ft 3 in
  Height2.64 m9 ft 8 in
  Wing area21.65 m2233.04 sq ft
 PERFORMANCE
  Max. speed703 km/h437 mph
  Ceiling12770 m41900 ft
  Range w/max.fuel3347 km2080 miles
 ARMAMENT6 x 12.7mm machine-guns, 454kg of bombs

3-View 
North American P-51 MustangA three-view drawing (592 x 902)

Comments1-20 21-40 41-60 61-80 81-100 101-120
Grady Stoodt, e-mail, 02.09.2010 23:03

I think that the p-51 was the best fighter of all time.

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Don Rowland, e-mail, 03.03.2010 17:31

I was lucky enough to get a backseat ride in a cavalier conversion P-51D in 1964, still get a thrill when I think of it again.

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Fred Benenati, e-mail, 17.02.2010 05:50

The description is of the D model, but the plane shown in the color drawing is of a B or C, not an A. The B was manufactured at Inglewood, CA, not Palmdale, as J. Bassett says. The C model was, in fact, manufactured at the Dallas plant, as he correctly mentions.

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Aaron, e-mail, 04.09.2010 16:08

The Mustang certainly help win the conflict in Europe and it was THE best choice for the USAAF as a high altitude long range escort. Especially if cost is considered. The P-38J /L had all the performance of the Merline powered mustangs and the range but at considerably more cost. The same could be said for the P-47N.
My personal choice for best all round WW2 piston engine fighter would be the F4U-4 Corsair.

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cecil j. poss, 26.01.2010 18:59

I finally got to fly the P-51D in 1945. I It was transferred out of the Reserve unit after I had 3+ 45 hrs in it. Great A /C! In 1952 I was at Tyndal field and flew about 500+ hours in the P51H model. It was the fastist a /c of the wwii. 487 @25000 feet. Another great a /c. Retired in September 1971 after 30 yrs.

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Col. Keith Obermann U.S. ARMY, 06.09.2010 09:20

The picture in DER ADLER of ANNA KREISLING testing a P-51D Mustang in 1944 is very interesting. She is dressed in a black SS uniform and in the footage, she removes her hat and just wears a standard Luftwaffe helmet and goggles. Albert Speer designed a bra for her that held a Walther PPK,which she could easily reach because of her breathtaking cleavage!!IN 1942 Heinrich Himmler presented a matched pair of Silver engraved Walther's with ivory grips. On the slide they say ANNA KREISLING, THE WHITE WOLF. They are currently on display at the Imperial War Museum in London.

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Tyler Mason, e-mail, 11.01.2010 16:18

How would this aircraft stack up to the fighter planes of this decade? Would it handle better or worse? Speed?

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wrench007, e-mail, 09.01.2010 06:17

Both my Dad and I are military pepole. My father flew the P-51 and several other aircraft. He recently gave me the original Pilot training manual and the Pilot's Flight Operation instructions manual. I wasn't aware that the model was for the F-51-H aircraft. But I treasure these two manuals.

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Adam Riley, e-mail, 09.01.2010 02:44

The Mustang was the greatest aircraft of World War II. It went from design to prototype in just 117 days and first flight in just 178 days thats unheard of at the time. It was developed for the British after North American approached them and tried to sell them the B-25 Mitchell. They were not intrested instead they asked if they could manufacture the Tomahawk under license from Curtiss. North American replied that they could make a new and better aircraft in less time than it would take to tool up for the Tomahawk.

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dbanks, e-mail, 04.01.2010 22:50

1952 - Crew chief'd a P51D at K46 (Wonju , Korea. What a plane! Got to taxi each day between overnight storage and sortie area. Can't remember how many times I wanted to pull out to the runway and shove the throttle forward and gently pull the stick back!! Would probably be dead or still in Leavenworth. Would have been worth it.
Great book: "Flying Legends" published by MBI tells the P-51 story with GREAT pictures.

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George Gallu, e-mail, 12.12.2009 00:38

I had always heard that the air scoop was placed mid-ship because the engine was going to be behind the pilot and from the pictures it would have been possible. I also read that the British turned down our P-51 because because they wanted the engine in the front and we refused. Knowing what I read and believed, why is the air-scoop amid-ship and howe did it function properly ?? I was 11 at the end of the war.

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paul scott, e-mail, 10.09.2009 23:06

Yes, as Leo below says, three lines for the Mustang? Saw one a couple of days from this date, at Foxley's Farm airshow in Leicestershire, beautiful, lovely sound from what may or may not have been a proper Merlin, but undoubtedly wonderful to see!(And hear)

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Ronald, e-mail, 24.08.2009 04:13

Dive was red-lined at 571 for the P-51 B (equal to the Macchi C 202) and 533 mph for the D model. Of course they could dive another 100 mph faster (around 630mph) with some risk to the American pilots.

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Jean Hardy, e-mail, 19.08.2009 01:20

I'm looking for P-51D Mustang engine mounts (left and right hand engine mount).

Can you be of any help.

Thanks, Jean

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leo rudnicki, e-mail, 07.04.2009 22:21

Barely 3 lines of history for the Mustang? Bob Hoover and his yellow Mustang, best demonstration ever.(I never saw Zura fly) The allied fighter which projected power and achieved air supremacy over enemy skies. Blue nose, red nose, red tail,whatever,Greatjob.

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stephen russell, e-mail, 15.06.2008 04:00

Sat in P-51D cockpit, very unqiue experience, some air show.
Sitting in History.
Love 2 fly back seat in plane BUT cramped.
Neat.

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Ace Avakian, e-mail, 07.06.2008 03:23

...flew the NA A36 "Apache" just for a short time but enjoyed every minute of it! This was with the Allison engine then the Brits put a RollsRoyce in it and really made an airplane out of it!!!

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Jock Williams, e-mail, 25.05.2008 03:35

I was lucky enough to check out in the P51 in 1982 after about 5000 hrs in high performance jets like the F5 and F104 as well as the ubiquitous T33. While in performance it was like a T33 with a Mack truck engine up front -it was a "Mustang" -with all the history and mystique that involves. I had soloed one 28 years earlier as a private pilot -I think the owner waqs hoping for thye insurance -but THIS time -I was qualified -and it was a delight!
This was done for a Canadian TV show called Thrill of a Lifetime -and it truly was!

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Col. M.J. Martin, e-mail, 09.05.2008 05:50

The A or B model is pictured but the discription is the D model. I loved that airplane.

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James Sumrow, e-mail, 02.05.2008 16:54

My dad worked for North American during World War II at Grand Prairie also. He was a machinist. Some where my sister has a picture of the first P51 prototype with the crew that built her. My dad is in the picture. I was born in Fort Worth in 1946 and we lived in Arlington.

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