P-51 Mustang

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The P-51 Mustang is one of the most famous and successful fighter aircrafts during the World War II. Manufactured by North American Aviation, the P-51 Mustang was a long-range single-seat that was operational with the Allied Air Forces in the middle years of World War II. the P-51 Mustang was credited with providing very effective long range bomber escort. The Allied daylight bombing campaign proved tremendously successful by strangling the support lines of the enemy and nearly stopping the production of war-time machinery. The P-51 Mustang and the men that flew them saved lives in the skies and on the ground.

The P-51 flew most of its wartime missions as a bomber escort in raids over Germany, helping ensure Allied air superiority from early 1944. It also saw limited service against the Japanese in the Pacific War. The Mustang began the Korean War as the United Nations’ main fighter, but was relegated to a ground attack role when superseded by jet fighters early in the conflict. Nevertheless, it remained in service with some air forces until the early-1980s.After World War II and the Korean conflict, many Mustangs were converted for civilian use, especially air racing. The Mustang’s reputation was such that, in the mid-1960s, Ford Motor Company’s Designer John Najjar proposed the name for a new youth-oriented coupe after the fighter.

Who would have thought, back in 1944, that this escort fighter would still be flying in the year 2006 (and beyond). The Mustang was built for the highest performance with less thought for longevity. With the hard work of war bird fanatics around the globe, about 280 P-51s still exist today with more than half still airworthy! A few of the remaining P-51s ( Survivors) have the distinction of serving for more than 30 years with 4 different Air Forces around the world.

Specifications (P-51D Mustang)

Type: Fighter aircraft
Crew: 1
Length: 32 ft 3 in (9.83 m)
Wingspan: 37 ft 0 in (11.28 m)
Height: 13 ft 8 in (4.17 m)
Wing area: 235 ft² (21.83 m²)
Empty weight: 7,635 lb (3,465 kg)
Loaded weight: 9,200 lb (4,175 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 12,100 lb (5,490 kg)
Powerplant: 1× Packard Merlin V-1650-7 liquid-cooled supercharged V-12, 1,695 hp (1,265 kW)
Maximum speed: 437 mph (703 km/h) at 25,000 ft (7,620 m)
Cruise speed: 362 mph (580 km/h)
Range: 1,650 mi (2,755 km) with external tanks
Service ceiling 41,900 ft (12,770 m)
Rate of climb: 3,200 ft/min (16.3 m/s)
Armament: 6 × 0.50 in (12.7 mm) machine guns; 400 rounds per gun for the two inboard guns; 270 per outboard gun; 2 hardpoints for up to 2,000 lb (907 kg); 10 × 5 in (127 mm) rockets

Filed Under History

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