henrik.soeby
P51D Mustang (1)
In the series of my favorites of WWII aircraft, here comes the American response to the RAF demand for a fast fighter.
About this creation
The North American P-51 Mustang was initially produced in response to a 1940 RAF requirement for a fast, heavily armed fighter able to operate effectively at altitudes in excess of 6100m (20.000ft). North American built the prototype in 117 days, and the aircraft, designated NA-73X, flew on 26 October 1940. The first of 320 production Mustang 1s for the RAF flew on 1 May 1941, powered by an 1100hp AllisonV engine. RAF test pilots soon found that with this powerplant the aircraft did not perform well at high altitude, but that its low-level performance was excellent. The RAF suggested that the Mustang 1, now designated P51, would perform much better as a high-altitude interceptor if it were re-engined with the Rolls-Royce Merlin, but the suggestion was initially ignored. Later Mustangs fitted with a licensed Packard-built Rolls-Royce Merlin 61 engine showed a dramatic improvement in performance.
This led to the successful P51D, in the familiar role as escort fighter in countless bombing raids of the Third Reich. I will not bore you with more history, and hope you will enjoy my model.
Praise and criticism are always welcome.
Source: The encyclopidia of aircraft.
This creation was blogged by
P51D Mustang (1)
In the series of my favorites of WWII aircraft, here comes the American response to the RAF demand for a fast fighter.
About this creation
The North American P-51 Mustang was initially produced in response to a 1940 RAF requirement for a fast, heavily armed fighter able to operate effectively at altitudes in excess of 6100m (20.000ft). North American built the prototype in 117 days, and the aircraft, designated NA-73X, flew on 26 October 1940. The first of 320 production Mustang 1s for the RAF flew on 1 May 1941, powered by an 1100hp AllisonV engine. RAF test pilots soon found that with this powerplant the aircraft did not perform well at high altitude, but that its low-level performance was excellent. The RAF suggested that the Mustang 1, now designated P51, would perform much better as a high-altitude interceptor if it were re-engined with the Rolls-Royce Merlin, but the suggestion was initially ignored. Later Mustangs fitted with a licensed Packard-built Rolls-Royce Merlin 61 engine showed a dramatic improvement in performance.
This led to the successful P51D, in the familiar role as escort fighter in countless bombing raids of the Third Reich. I will not bore you with more history, and hope you will enjoy my model.
Praise and criticism are always welcome.
Source: The encyclopidia of aircraft.
This creation was blogged by