P 51D MUSTANG The Gaurdian of The B17

GUARDIAN ANGEL FOR THE B17 BOMBERS

The P51 Mustang was one of the most effective planes of World War Two. The P51 Mustang gave the bombers of US 8th Air Force the fighter cover it so desperately needed over occupied Europe and, therefore, greatly assisted the bombing campaign against Nazi Germany in World War Two.

 

 

 

In May 1944, the P51-D was introduced. This plane was fitted with fuel drop tanks that gave it far greater mileage in the air. When these tanks were empty, they could be dropped so that the plane had the full use of its aerodynamics. This extra fuel gave the Mustang an ability to escort the US 8th Air Force bomber formations to just about any target in Western Europe. Such cover was vital to the Americans as they were participating in daylight raids primarily over Germany and were thus exposed to attacks by the Luftwaffe. Before the Mustang, American bombers flew in a box formation and relied on the fire power of the many guns carried by Flying Fortresses to protect a formation. Now the B17’s had a fighter escort to enhance this fire power. The Mustangs speed and maneuverability in the air made it a severe test for the Luftwaffe’s fighter pilots.

 

The P51 Mustang had an astonishing success rate. Its ratio for kills to losses was said to have been 19 kills for every 1 Mustang lost. The P51 Mustang is credited with the destruction of 4,950 German planes – more than any other Allied fighter – and some of these kills included the jet powered Me 262.

General characteristics

 Crew: 1

 Length: 32 ft 3 in (9.83 m)

 Wingspan: 37 ft 0 in (11.28 m)

 Height: 13 ft 4½ in (4.08 m:tail wheel on ground, vertical propeller blade.)

 Wing area: 235 ft² (21.83 m²)

 Empty weight: 7,635 lb (3,465 kg)

 Loaded weight: 9,200 lb (4,175 kg)

 Max. takeoff weight: 12,100 lb (5,490 kg)

 Power plant: 1 × Packard V-1650-7 liquid-cooled supercharged V-12, 1,490 hp (1,111 kW) at 3,000 rpm; 1,720 hp (1,282 kW) at WEP

 Zero-lift drag coefficient: 0.0163

 Drag area: 3.80 ft² (0.35 m²)

 Aspect ratio: 5.83

Performance

 Maximum speed: 437 mph (703 km/h) at 25,000 ft (7,600 m)

 Cruise speed: 362 mph (580 km/h)

 Stall speed: 100 mph (160 km/h)

 Range: 1,650 mi (2,755 km) with external tanks

 Service ceiling: 41,900 ft (12,800 m)

 Rate of climb: 3,200 ft/min (16.3 m/s)

 Wing loading: 39 lb/ft² (192 kg/m²)

 Power/mass: 0.18 hp/lb (300 W/kg)

 Lift-to-drag ratio: 14.6

 Recommended Mach limit 0.8