Comments on: P-51 Mustang http://www.classic-machines.com/blog/2009/04/01/p-51-mustang A tribute to the classic machines of the past. These "classic machines" represent those that fulfilled their role above and beyond what was required of it. Sat, 15 May 2010 10:57:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: torasham http://www.classic-machines.com/blog/2009/04/01/p-51-mustang/comment-page-1#comment-8 torasham Sat, 02 Aug 2008 07:36:40 +0000 http://classic-machines.com/blog/?p=4#comment-8 well..well...good review.. torashams last blog post..<a href="http://pojokblogkita.blogspot.com/2008/07/tari-piring.html" rel="nofollow">Tari Piring</a> well..well…good review..

torashams last blog post..Tari Piring

]]> By: Ethan Nobles http://www.classic-machines.com/blog/2009/04/01/p-51-mustang/comment-page-1#comment-6 Ethan Nobles Fri, 01 Aug 2008 17:14:00 +0000 http://classic-machines.com/blog/?p=4#comment-6 And there it is -- the most beautiful airplane ever produced. Period. Ethan Nobless last blog post..<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheNaturalStateHawg-RamblingsFromAnArkie/~3/352220127/how-did-oklahoma-get-so-cool-all-of.html" rel="nofollow">How did Oklahoma get so cool all of the sudden?</a> And there it is — the most beautiful airplane ever produced. Period.

Ethan Nobless last blog post..How did Oklahoma get so cool all of the sudden?

]]> By: P-51 Fan http://www.classic-machines.com/blog/2009/04/01/p-51-mustang/comment-page-1#comment-4 P-51 Fan Thu, 31 Jul 2008 18:46:41 +0000 http://classic-machines.com/blog/?p=4#comment-4 The true turning point of WW II came with the debut of the P-51 Mustang in that its long-range escort ability saved the Allied bomber offensive from obliteration. As things were going about the time of the Schweinfurt Raids in mid-to-late 1943, the US was seriously considering ceasing large daylight bombing operations due to extensive losses. P-51s truly brought the war to Germany like the bomber alone could not do. Before it the Luftwaffe knew exactly when the P-47s and or Spitfires had to turn back and were waiting to intercept the bombers. As mentioned, losses were high. The Mustangs were able to tag along to any European or Pacific target, no matter how distant, giving the protection of their guns to their “Big Friends” as they stuck close. Once the tide was turning the P-51s were unleashed to pursue enemy fighters on any terms encountered. Mustangs were as maneuverable or more so than FW 190s or Bf 109s they met in most circumstances. While the Bs and Cs had four .50s with a total of 1,260 rounds, the D and later models had six guns with 1,880 rounds of API- armor-piercing incendiary ammo. Plus with the Merlin that replaced the original Allison V-12, the planes were faster with a 437-MPH top speed than most German planes but for a handful. The late-war P-51H seen in the closing stages of the Pacific could manage 487 MPH. After WW II they served in Air National Guard units and bore much of the ground attack war in Korea. Many saw use in small air forces around the world and some were even revamped in the 1980s for counter insurgency roles. All models’ production totaled around 14,000 aircraft. The true turning point of WW II came with the debut of the P-51 Mustang in that its long-range escort ability saved the Allied bomber offensive from obliteration. As things were going about the time of the Schweinfurt Raids in mid-to-late 1943, the US was seriously considering ceasing large daylight bombing operations due to extensive losses.

P-51s truly brought the war to Germany like the bomber alone could not do. Before it the Luftwaffe knew exactly when the P-47s and or Spitfires had to turn back and were waiting to intercept the bombers. As mentioned, losses were high. The Mustangs were able to tag along to any European or Pacific target, no matter how distant, giving the protection of their guns to their “Big Friends” as they stuck close. Once the tide was turning the P-51s were unleashed to pursue enemy fighters on any terms encountered.

Mustangs were as maneuverable or more so than FW 190s or Bf 109s they met in most circumstances. While the Bs and Cs had four .50s with a total of 1,260 rounds, the D and later models had six guns with 1,880 rounds of API- armor-piercing incendiary ammo. Plus with the Merlin that replaced the original Allison V-12, the planes were faster with a 437-MPH top speed than most German planes but for a handful. The late-war P-51H seen in the closing stages of the Pacific could manage 487 MPH.

After WW II they served in Air National Guard units and bore much of the ground attack war in Korea. Many saw use in small air forces around the world and some were even revamped in the 1980s for counter insurgency roles. All models’ production totaled around 14,000 aircraft.

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