military-aircraft-p-51

The Mustang resulted from a British fighter requirement that specified the construction of the prototype within 120 days. The NA-73 prototype was produced under the overall control of the North American's J.H. "Dutch kindelburger, and was rolled out after 117 days. Fitted with an Allison V-1710 engine, the aircraft first flew in October 1940 and was soon ordered by the british and Americans as the Mustang and -P-51 respectively. The initial P-51 and P-51A variants proved only moderately successful. To improve medium to high altitude performance the British suggested use of the great Merlin. This produced the P-51B with four machine guns and the P-51C with more power and a bubble canopy. The definitive fighter was the P-51D with a number of refinements, and this variant amounted to 7,966 of the 15,469 Mustang. The p-51D was the classic multi role fighter of the Second World War, and was the main escort for US bombers flying deep into Germany.

Description	Specifications
Manufacturer: North American	Length: 32 ft. 3.25 in.
First Flight: October 1940	Height: 13 ft. 8 in.
Model: D	Wing Span: 37 ft. 0.25 in.
Crew: One.	Wing Area: 233.2 sq. ft.
Nickname:	Empty Weight: 7,125 lb.
Basic Role: Fighter.	Max. Weight: 11,600 lb.
Other Versions: Mustang Mk 1 reconnaissance fighter. Mustang Mk 1A and P-51 cannon armament. Mustang Mk II and P-51A long range version of MK 1. P-51B/C and Mustang MK III Merlin engine. P-51D and Mustang Mk IV definitive fighter. P-51H light weight version. P-51K a P-51D with different propeller.	Armament: Six 0.5-mm 12.7-mm fixed machine guns, and up to 2,000 lb of bombs or six 5-in rockets.
Principal User: Australia, China, Great Britain, the Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa, and USA	Propulsion
Performance	Power Plant: Packard V-1650-7 (Roll Royce Merlin) inline piston engine.
Range: 2,300 miles.	Horsepower: 1,510-hp.
Max. Speed: 437 mph at 25,000 ft.	No. Of Engines: One
Ceiling: 41,900 ft.
Climb Rate: 30,000 ft. in 13 minutes 0 seconds.

The Mustang Mk 1 enter service in April 1942, and because its engine could not deliver the power required for high performance at high altitude. The type was fitted with a single camera and used as admirable low level armed reconnaissance fighter. Photo RAF Museum