A P-51 Mustang barrels away from a BF-109. Photo © Phil Makanna. Composite by J. Kevin Tumlinson

Just prior to the Battle of Britain in 1940, the British Air Purchasing Commission ordered the construction of a high-performance long range fighter from North American Aviation, with an unrealistic specification that the finished airframe had to be delivered in under 120 days; a feat normally taking up to 2 years. North American delivered the revolutionary semi-laminar wing, low-drag airframe in only 100 days!..and thus the amazing P-51 Mustang was born. Less than a year after entering service, and in response to pilot requests for more power at high altitudes, the P-51 was mated to the magnificent Rolls Royce Merlin engine, and from that point forward the P-51 ruled the skies over Europe, the Mediterranean, and the Pacific. It performed as well or better than any contemporary fighter of the time, and had no major weaknesses for an enemy pilot to exploit. Therefore, In the eyes of a majority of combat pilots and aviation historians, the Mustang is heralded as the best overall fighter of WWII!

The P-51, renamed F-51, went on to fight as a ground attack aircraft during the Korean War, but because of it's liquid cooled engine suffered many losses from small arms fire to the glycol system. The P-51 remained in service with Latin and South American air forces until the mid-1970s - a remarkable testament to it's design and overall performance.

Today, the P-51 Mustang is the most sought after and restored WWII fighter in the world, and remains a popular show stopper on the international air show circuit.

Pilot's Perspective

Forthcoming

P-51 Mustang Web Sites
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