Time Period: World War II
Country of Origin: United States
Type: Fighter Aircraft
Manufacturer: North American Aviation
North American P-51 Mustang Aircraft Overview
The North American P-51 Mustang is a fighter aircraft that was widely used by the United States and other Allied forces during World War II. It was designed and produced by the North American Aviation company, and was one of the most successful and effective fighter aircraft of the war.
The P-51 Mustang was a single-engine, single-seat fighter, and was powered by a Rolls-Royce Merlin engine. It had a top speed of around 440 mph (710 km/h), and was armed with six .50 caliber machine guns. It was also capable of carrying a variety of bombs and rockets for use in ground attack missions.
The Mustang played a significant role in several key air campaigns of World War II, including the bombing of Germany and the Pacific theater. It was particularly effective in its role as a bomber escort, where its speed and range allowed it to accompany bombers on long missions deep into enemy territory.
In addition to its military service, the P-51 Mustang has also been used extensively in civilian aviation, and remains a popular aircraft for air racing and aerobatics. A number of Mustangs are still flying today, and the aircraft remains an iconic symbol of American military aviation.
North American P-51D Mustang Specifications
- Crew: 1
- Length: 32 ft 3 in (9.83 m)
- Wingspan: 37 ft 0 in (11.28 m)
- Height: 13 ft 4.5 in (4.077 m) tail wheel on ground, vertical propeller blade
- Wing area: 235 sq ft (21.8 m2)
- Aspect ratio: 5.83
- Airfoil: NAA/NACA 45–100
- Empty weight: 7,635 lb (3,463 kg)
- Gross weight: 9,200 lb (4,173 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 12,100 lb (5,488 kg) 5,490
- Fuel capacity: 269 US gal (224 imp gal; 1,020 l)
- Zero-lift drag coefficient: 0.0163
- Drag area: 3.80 sqft (0.35 m²)
- Powerplant: 1 × Packard (Rolls-Royce) V-1650-7 Merlin 12-cylinder liquid-cooled engine, 1,490 hp (1,110 kW) at 3,000 rpm; 1,720 hp (1,280 kW) at WEP
- Propellers: 4-bladed Hamilton Standard constant-speed, variable-pitch, 11 ft 2 in (3.40 m) diameter.
North American P-51D Mustang Performance
- Maximum speed: 440 mph (710 km/h, 383 kn)
- Cruise speed: 362 mph (583 km/h, 315 kn)
- Stall speed: 100 mph (160 km/h, 87 kn)
- Range: 1,650 mi (2,660 km, 1,434 nmi) with external tanks
- Service ceiling: 41,900 ft (12,800 m)
- Rate of climb: 3,200 ft/min (16 m/s)
- Lift-to-drag: 14.6
- Wing loading: 39 lb/sq ft (190 kg/m2)
- Power/mass: 0.162 / 0.187 hp/lb (0.266 / 0.307 kW/kg) (without / with WEP)
- Recommended Mach limit 0.8
North American P-51D Mustang Armament
- Guns: 6 × .50 caliber (12.7mm) AN/M2 Browning machine guns with 1,840 total rounds (380 rounds for each on the inboard pair and 270 rounds for each of the outer two pair)
- Rockets: 6 or 10 × 5.0 in (127 mm) T64 HVAR rockets (P-51D-25, P-51K-10 on)
- Bombs: 1 × 100 lb (45 kg) or 250 lb (110 kg) bomb or 500 lb (230 kg) bomb on hardpoint under each wing.
North American P-51 Mustang Image Gallery
More North American Aircraft
North American X-15
The X-15 is a hypersonic rocket-powered aircraft operated by the Air Force and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
North American F-86 Sabre
The North American F-86 Sabre or Sabrejet is a transonic jet fighter aircraft produced by North American Aviation and introduced in 1949.
North American F-82 Twin Mustang
The North American F-82 Twin Mustang was an American piston-engined fighter based on the North American P-51 Mustang and used in WW2.
North American P-64
The North American P-64 was an upgraded variant of the NA-50 fighter aircraft manufactured by North American Aviation in 1939.
