22 replies to this topic

[smuuuthy]

Learn a little more about the history of a legendary American warplane.

[CloakRogue]

Cool, I love learning the history behind the planes we're flying.

[The_Dutch_Oven]

The only aircraft I love more is the Corsair.

[jason921]

i love the p51.

[xaerostrike]

P51D truly is the Cadillac of the Sky!

[SharpEdgeSoda]

I can't wait to see the P-51D someday in the game. Such a beautiful plane in shining silver... with terrifying teeth.

[_DK_]

Elegant, efficient, deadly.

[Aries13]

Like I said in a previous thread, this should be the plane no one wants to see on the other team, and the only plane u want to see on your team.

[FA71211]

nice plane! how much money in the game?? lol

[xaerostrike]

FA71211, on 04 April 2012 - 05:41 PM, said:

nice plane! how much money in the game?? lol

<Dr Evil Voice> one Million Dollars ! muhahahhaaa !

[The_Dutch_Oven]

xaerostrike, on 04 April 2012 - 05:58 PM, said:

<Dr Evil Voice> one Million Dollars ! muhahahhaaa !

My link

Press multiple times for the entire playerbase's reaction.

[Zulnex]

Very nice read, many thanks.

[FreeFOXMIKE]

http://www.youtube.c...1&v=k_INqtXdlgM

[FreeFOXMIKE]

The Mustang's achievements in WW2 with the USAAF tend to overshadow its  work with the RAF, who of course took the aircraft in to combat before  the Americans ever did. RAF operations can be grouped in to three types:

a.  Army Co-operation including low level recce, naval strike using Allison  engined P51A's or Mustang 1/ll's. Some also acted as low level  interceptors against low flying German raiders.

b. Long range escort missions for coastal strike and bomber operations using Mustang lll's and lV's.

c. Ground attack and general fighter support using Mustang lll's and lV's.

The  RAF loved the early Mustangs and it was very much missed when the  production line closed in favour of the Merlin engined B's and C's. As a  low level fighter the P51A had few equals in speed and range, even if  its agility was exceeded by the low altitude cropped wing Spitfire Mk  V's. Mustangs saw action all over Western Europe including Dieppe flying  in ones and twos at ranges Spitfire's could only dream about in their  armed versions. Mustangs had the standard day scheme of green/brown  uppers and sky undersides later replaced by the green/Ocean Grey/Medium  Sea Grey scheme. Markings were a standard mix of B roundels on the upper  wings and C and C1's on the under sides of the wings and fuselage sides  (A's on the green/Dark Earth versions). The RAF also had some of the  20mm cannon armed aircraft designated 1a's. The last Mustang 1/ll  squadron kept their aircraft until 1945. All others having been replaced  by other types or Merlin Mustang versions.


As North American  ceased production of the Allison engined versions the RAF reequiped  some of the squadrons with less well suited types such as the Spitfire  Mk V. While the Spitfire is still the best fighter of WW2 in this role  the early Mustangs were certainly the better aircraft as their long  range and rugged construction were very useful operating at these  altitudes and mission profiles. The RAF then shifted attention to the  Merlin engined Mk lll's (the US B/C). The B/C were the same aircraft  made by different factories with tiny differences between them, hence  the RAF's use of the same designation. By late 1944 this version had  established itself as a competent performer capable of doing all that  was asked of it. RAF modifications gave the aircraft a bulged Malcolm  canopy for improved visibility and cockpit access and the US  modification to the ammunition feed resulted in an end to the gun  jamming problems that beset the aircraft when it first entered service.  Some authorities believe the Malcolm hooded C with the modified  ammunition feeds to be better than the later P 51D due to the loss of  lateral stability that resulted from removing the fuselage side area.  These Mustangs roamed far and wide over Europe escorting RAF bombers as  Bomber Command increasingly turned day light precision raids such as  those carried out by 617 and 9 Squadron's using Tallboys and Grandslam  earthquake bombs. Mustangs also carried out escorts for Mosquitoes and  Beaufighters as far away as Norway for anti shipping strikes. Leonard  Cheshire even used a Mustang for experimental target marking for 617  Squadron in place of the Mosquito he normally used. Almost all examples  were green/Ocean Grey/Medium Sea Grey. Polish units often had colourful  markings and large kill boards, 19 Squadron was quite well marked and  its post war examples such as the well known Dooly Bird were almost  gaudy. These Mustangs took part in the anti Diver patrols against the V1  and were very successful, even if the Tempest had the speed edge on the  Mustang.

Specifications
  Length: 32' 3" 9.8 m
  Height: 12' 2" 3.7 m
  Wingspan: 37' 11.3 m
  Wingarea: 235.0 sq ft 21.8 sq m
  Max Weight: 9,000 lb 4,081 kg

Propulsion     No. of Engines: 1
  Powerplant: Allison V-1710-81
  Horsepower (each): 1200

Performance     Range: 450 miles 724 km
  Max Speed: 390 mph 628 km/h 339 kt
  Ceiling: 31,350 ft 9,555 m

[FreeFOXMIKE]

But lest we forget this variant


North American A-36 Apache

The North American A-36 Apache (listed in some sources as "Invader", but also called Mustang) was the ground-attack/dive bomber version of the North American Aviation P-51 Mustang, from which it could be distinguished by the presence of rectangular, slatted dive brakes above and below the wings. A total of 500 A-36 dive bombers served in North Africa, the Mediterranean, Italy and the China-Burma-India theater during World War II before being withdrawn from operational use in 1944.

:  http://home.comcast.net/%7Ebzee1b/Chino10/Statics/DBZ_4482.jpg

Depending on the target and defenses, the bomb release took place  between 2,000 ft and 4,000 ft (610 and 1,219 m), followed by an  immediate sharp "pull up."^[9] Dive brakes in the wings gave the A-36A greater stability in a dive;  however, a myth has arisen that they were useless due to malfunctions or  because of the danger of deploying them and that they should be wired  closed.^[17] Capt. Charles E. Dills, 27th Fighter-Bomber Group, 522d Fighter Squadron,  XIIth Air Force emphatically stated in a postwar interview: "I flew the  A-36 for 39 of my 94 missions, from 11/43 to 3/44. They were never  wired shut in Italy in combat. This 'wired shut' story apparently came  from the training group at Harding Field, Baton Rouge, LA."



http://upload.wikime...n/b/b8/A-36.jpg

27th Group circulated a petition to adopt the name "Invader" for their  rugged little bomber, receiving unofficial recognition of the more  fitting name.^[15] Despite the name change, most combat reports preferred the name "Mustang" for all of the variants.^[22] The Germans gave it a flattering if fearsome accolade, calling the A-36As, "screaming helldivers."^[21]

Besides dive bombing, the A-36A racked up aerial victories, totaling 84  enemy aircraft downed and creating an "ace", Lieutenant Michael T. Russo  from the 27th Fighter Bomber Group (ultimately, the only ace using the  Allison-engined Mustang).^[14]  As fighting intensified in all theaters where the A-36A operated, the  dive bomber began to suffer an alarming loss rate with 177 falling to  enemy action.^[14]  The main reason for the attrition was the hazardous missions that  placed the A-36A "on the deck" facing murderous ground fire. German  defenses in southern Italy included placing cables across hill tops to  snare the attacking A-36As.^[23]  Despite establishing a "reputation for reliability and performance,  "the one "Achilles' heel" of the A-36A (and the entire Mustang series)  remained its vulnerable cooling system leading to many of the losses.^[24] By June 1944, A-36As in Europe were replaced by Curtiss P-40s and Republic P-47 Thunderbolts.


http://www.youtube.c...d&v=V4TNN7sU-DI

[pikasmax]

Einen Vorteil hatte die Me-109 gegenüber der Mustang in allen Höhenbereichen ! Die 109er konnte in eine sehr enge Kurve ziehen, den der Vorflügel klappten heraus, die Maschine begann sich zu schütteln, aber sie flog noch. Dagegen begab sich die Mustang in den Bereich des Hochgeschwindigkeitsströmungabrisses mit dem typischen Verhalten des Aufbäumen und Flachdruddeln.
Im direkten vergleich P-51D Mustang vs. Me-109K überlebte meisst der erfahrende Pilot.

[Silent_Nightmare]

North American P-51 Mustang


Origin:North American Aviation Inc.

TYPE:(P-51)Single Seat Fighter (A-36) attack Bomber

Engine:(P-51, one 1,150hp Allison V-1710-F3R

Later (P-51D)1,590Hp V-1650-7 (Packard Licence-built R-R Merlin),

for refernce: R-R  Rolls-Royce Merlin


There was also a Twin boom version of the P-51 mustang

North American P-82 Mustang

Development in 1944

First test flights were in 1945, had two Packard Merlin V-1650 Engines with counter rotating propellers.

This Mustang came as a result  of the USAAF requirment for a long range escort fight for the south pacific.

[Bregil]

It's no exaggeration to say that this is the plane I am most looking forward to having in game.  

[TroII]

What about the H modle?
I doubt anyone execpt me knows about it.



My dad owns a D model.

Im going for my pilots license so i can use it.
Tail number 415326
Ill get a picture of me next to it for you guys.

[TroII]

Wake_Island, on 25 April 2012 - 03:27 PM, said:

What about the H modle?
I doubt anyone execpt me knows about it.



My dad owns a D model.

Im going for my pilots license so i can use it.
Tail number 415326 N351DM
Ill get a picture of me next to it for you guys.