North American P-51 Mustang

There is no other American aircraft as iconic, as the North American P-51 Mustang. This beast of a machine, was designed in the year 1940, by North American Aviation (NAA). The first prototype, the NA-73x airframe went for its first flight on October 26, 1940.

  “There is no other American aircraft as iconic, as the North American P-51 Mustang.”

The original versions, had an Allison V1710 engine. This engine was a liquid-cooled V12

P-51D’s of the 361st Fighter Group, 375th Fighter Squadron, 8th USAAF. Lead by Colonel Thomas Jonathan Jackson J.R. Christian. 

piston engine. This engine gave the original models of the P-51, limited high-altitude performance. The definitive version of the Mustang, was the Mustang P-51D. It was equipped with a Packard V-1650-7, a license-built version of the Rolls-Royce Merlin 66 two-stage two-speed supercharged engine. The P-51D was armed with six .50 caliber (12.7 mm) M2/AN Browning machine guns. More then 15,000 P-51s were built. The normal unit cost was $50,985.

The P-51, was originally developed for the British Royal Air force, but was quickly implemented by the United States as well. Since then many other countries have also implemented the P-51 into their air forces. The P-51 played the role of fighter-bomber, and bomber escort. The P-51D had a service ceiling to 42,00 feet.

The P-51 Mustang pushed the boundaries of of military aviation. It was one of the deadliest fighters the USAAF had ever implemented, and it was one of the main factors to the Allies achieving air supremacy, during the war. To such an extent that the Allies had air dominance over German skies by the time the end of the war approached.