The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range single-seat fighter aircraft that entered service with Allied air forces in the middle years of the war. The P-51 became one of the conflict's most successful and recognizable aircraft.
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.
Type: Fighter
Manufacturer: North American Aviation
Designed by:
Edgar Schmued/
Raymond H. Rice/
Larry Waite/
E. H. Horkey
Maiden flight: 26 October 1940
Introduction: 1942
Retired: 1957
Number built: 15,875
Cost per unit in 1945: $50,985
Crew: 1
Length: 32'3"
Wingspan: 37'0"
Height: 13'8"
Wing area: 235'
Empty weight: 7,635 lb
Loaded weight: 9,200 lb
Max takeoff weight: 12,100 lb
Powerplant: 1× Packard Merlin V-1650-7 liquid-cooled supercharged V-12, 1,695 hp
Zero-lift drag coefficient: 0.0163
Drag area: 3.80'
Aspect ratio: 5.83
Maximum speed: 437 mph at 25,000 ft.
Cruise speed: 362 mph
Stall speed: 100 mph
Range: 1,650 miles with external tanks
Service ceiling 41,900 ft.
Rate of climb: 3,200 ft/min
Wing loading: 39 lb/ft
Power/mass: 0.18 hp/lb
Lift-to-drag ratio: 14.6
Recommended Mach limit = 0.8
Armament:
six .50 caliber machine guns, 400 rounds per gun for the two inboard guns, 270 per outboard gun
2 hardpoints for up to 2,000 lb bombs or
10 five inch rockets
There are about 280 p51's left in the world today and about half of those are still air worthy.
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