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Named Mustang by the RAF for who it was designed and built as an alternative to the P40 its good low level performance could not be maintained at altitude until , transformed by the addition of a R.R. Merlin, it went on to become the "American Spitfire", one of aviations most "Glamorous Aircraft" and arguably the most versatile fighter ever made. It was used as a Long Range Air Superiority Fighter,Day Fighter, Fighter Bomber and for Photo Reconnaissance, Close Support and a Dive Bombing not just in W.W.II but the Korean and numerous other "Minor Conflicts" since. |
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NORTH AMERICAN
P-51A MUSTANG 'RM-D' |
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Of the approximately 15469 Mustangs built 608 were Mustang 1's built for the RAF. It entered service in February 1942 with No 26 Sqd at Gatwick. Mustangs accounted for approximately 4950 enemy aircraft in aerial combat and almost as many, 4131 in ground attacks but will best remembered as an unsurpassed long range air superiority fighter. With a V-1710 1150 hp Allison engine it had a Max speed of 382 mph at 13000 ft, an armament of 4 x 0.5" MG's and 4 x 0.3” MG’s and was also capable of carrying up to a max. of 1 x 1000lb bomb under each wing on strengthened wing hard points or a variety of other stores such as triple rocket tubes or drop tanks and if required could fly for a 1000 miles. |
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NORTH AMERICAN
P-51B MUSTANG "Shangri-La" |
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Of the approximately 15469 Mustangs built 3738 were P51B's or P51C's .They were engaged in combat from the 01/12/43 until the end of the war and were the predominant variant until the middle of 1944 when large numbers of the P51D began to arrive. Mustangs accounted for approximately 4950 enemy aircraft in aerial combat and almost as many,4131 in ground attacks but will best remembered as an unsurpassed long range air superiority fighter. With a 1450 hp Packard Merlin it had a Max speed of 440 mph
at 30000 ftand an armament of 4 x 0.5" MG's with 350 round
for the inboard and 280 the outer guns. It was also capable of
carrying up to 1 x 1000lb bomb under each wing on strengthened
wing hard points or variety other |
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NORTH AMERICAN
P-51B MUSTANG "The Hun Hunter / Texas" |
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Of the approximately 15469 Mustangs built 3738 were P51B's or P51C's .They were engaged in combat from the 01/12/43 until the end of the war and were the predominant variant until the middle of 1944 when large numbers of the P51D began to arrive. Mustangs accounted for approximately 4950 enemy aircraft in aerial combat and almost as many,4131 in ground attacks but will best remembered as an unsurpassed long range air superiority fighter. With a 1450 hp Packard Merlin it had a Max speed of 440 mph
at 30000 ftand an armament of 4 x 0.5" MG's with 350 round
for the inboard and 280 the outer guns. It was also capable of
carrying up to 1 x 1000lb bomb under each wing on strengthened
wing hard points or variety other |
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NORTH AMERICAN
P-51C MUSTANG "PRINCESS ELIZABETH" |
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This P-51C (B) Mustang is painted to represent the
P-51B "Princess It was built up by Pete Regina from various B model
parts and registered N51PRwas originally displayed as "Shangri
La".It raced at Reno in 1982 before being repainted as "The
Believer" in 1986.
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Of the approximately 15469 Mustangs built 3738 were P51B's or P51C's .They were engaged in combat from the 01/12/43 until the end of the war and were the predominant variant until the middle of 1944 when large numbers of the P51D began to arrive. Mustangs accounted for approximately 4950 enemy aircraft in aerial combat and almost as many,4131 in ground attacks but will best remembered as an unsurpassed long range air superiority fighter. With a 1450 hp Packard Merlin it had a Max speed of 440 mph
at 30000 ft and an armament of 4 x 0.5" MG's with 350 round
for the inboard and 280 the outer guns. It was also capable of
carrying up to 1 x 1000lb bomb under each wing on strengthened
wing hard points or variety other |
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NORTH AMERICAN
P-51C MUSTANG "INA the Macon Belle" |
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This P-51C NA Mustang is painted
to represent 'INA the Macon Belle' flown by Lt Lee 'Buddy'
Archer of the 302nd FS, 332nd FG, US 15th AF during 1944.
On 30/11/2000 P51C Mustang serial No.42-103831 (NX1204)
after a 20,000 hour rebuild flew again. Restored by
Cal-Pacific for Kermit Weeks, who flew it, it carries the
markings of Lee Archer's WWII Mustang 'INA the Macon Belle' a
tribute to Lee and all the other Tuskegee Airmen.
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Of the approximately 15469 Mustangs built 3738 were P51B's or P51C's .They were engaged in combat from the 01/12/43 until the end of the war and were the predominant variant until the middle of 1944 when large numbers of the P51D began to arrive. Mustangs accounted for approximately 4950 enemy aircraft in aerial combat and almost as many,4131 in ground attacks but will best remembered as an unsurpassed long range air superiority fighter. With a 1450 hp Packard Merlin it had a Max speed of 440 mph
at 30000 ft and an armament of 4 x 0.5" MG's with 350 round
for the inboard and 280 the outer guns. It was also capable of
carrying up to 1 x 1000lb bomb under each wing on strengthened
wing hard points or variety other |