The Mustang, with its high speed, long-range, low-cost, and six . 50 caliber M2 Browning machine guns, made it the ideal fighter for the job. … The P-51 dominated air combat in Europe, destroying nearly 5,000 enemy aircraft. It was also a very capable fighter-bomber and could carry 1,000 pounds of bombs and rockets.24 mai 2020
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Which is faster Spitfire or Mustang?
The Mustang was also much quicker than the Spitfire, with a much longer combat range. The Mustang also flew much higher than the Spitfire, giving it a noticeable advantage. North American also equipped the Mustang with more weaponry, as well as a much faster climb rate.12 oct. 2019
Is a p51 easy to fly?
The P-51D, which I flew, was a very straightforward airplane in every way. By that I mean it wasn’t difficult to fly or hard to handle, as long as you remembered a few basic things. First and foremost, you never forgot for a minute that it could bite hard if you got careless.
Were P-51 Mustangs used in Vietnam?
The North American P-51 Mustang was one of the greatest fighters of World War II. Had life worked out differently, the Mustang could also have fought in Vietnam and flown against a Soviet invasion of Western Europe. In fact, it might even have replaced the A-10 Warthog. … The P-51 eventually became the Turbo Mustang III.16 mai 2020
Does Tom Cruise own a p51 Mustang?
Cruise also owns a P-51 Mustang, which was a real-life WWII fighter. The aircraft was built in 1946 and was donated to a museum in Illinois.17 jui. 2020
How many p51 Mustangs are left?
There are only around 175 Mustangs still flying, with roughly 150 of those in the U.S. About 100 other Mustangs are on display in museums. More than 15,000 rolled off North American Aviation assembly lines in California and Texas during World War II.24 juil. 2019
Which plane shot down the most planes in ww2?
Spitfires shot down a total of 529 enemy aircraft, for a loss of 230 of their own. The Hurricane was the most numerous of RAF Fighter Command’s aircraft during the Battle of Britain, equipping 33 squadrons by September 1940.
What was the fastest fighter in World War II?
Messerschmitt Me 262
Which is better p51 Mustang or Spitfire?
In most cases, the Spitfire had better performance as an all-purpose fighter. … However, the P51D was generally more specialized than the Spitfire. In it’s main role, the Mustang proved itself as a superb escort fighter in Allied bombing raids over Germany.23 juil. 2018
How do you land Ap 51?
The P-51 can be landed using either a wheel landing or a three-point landing technique. Some pilots feel the three-point landing is easier if the wind conditions are favorable, and with high winds, strong gusts, or a crosswind, a wheel landing is often easier.
Did Spitfires have autopilot?
Originally Answered: did ww2 bombers have autopilot? No. They also did not have GPS or any of the fly-by-wire technology that is standard in most modern aircraft. The pilots flew the aircraft from take-off to landing.
Was the p51 pressurized?
No. Even today fighter planes don’t have pressurized cabins. WW2 pilots used oxygen masks at high altitude. P-51 Mustang pilots flew at high altitude to escort bombers and they certainly used oxygen masks with microphone in them to be able to talk to each other.
What does the P stand for in P-51?
The P in P-51 stands for pursuit (plane). Pursuit was adopted during the First World War as the designation for what are now called fighters. It was probably a mistranslation of the German Jager (hunter or chaser). When the US Air Force was formed in 1947 it replaced the P with F, standing for Fighter.
What did German pilots think of the P-51?
German pilots found the P-51 to be a formidable opponent for their piston-engined fighters, mainly Messerschmitt Bf 109s and Focke-Wulf Fw 190s. Because of its raw and diving speed, many German pilots stated that once a Mustang got on your tail, it was nearly impossible to shake it off.
How much did a P-51 cost?
A P-51 cost $51,000 in 1945, or about $675,000 today. The Enforcer would probably have cost around a million dollars.17 jan. 2020