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Source: U.S. Air Force |
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North American P-51 "Mustang" |
The P-51 flew most of its missions as a bomber escort in raids over Germany, and helped ensure Allied air superiority after 1944. It also saw service against Japanese air forces in the Pacific War.
The Mustang began the Korean War as the United Nations' main fighter, but was supplanted by jets by the conflict's end. Nevertheless, it remained in service with some air forces until the early 1980s.
The definitive version of the single-seat fighter was powered by a single two-stage supercharged V-12 Rolls-Royce Merlin engine and armed with six .50 caliber (12.7 mm) M2 machine guns.
Many Mustangs were converted for civilian use, especially air racing.
Source: wikipedia.org |
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Type: Fighter
Mfr: North American Aviation
Maiden Flight: 10-26-1940
Introduced: 1942
Retired: 1957 US ANG
Primary User: USAAF
Number Built: 15,875
Unit Cost: $50,985 (1945)
Crew: 1
Length: 32 ft 3 in
Wingspan: 37 ft 0 in
Height: 13 ft 8 in
Wing area: 235 ft²
Empty weight: 7,635 lb
Loaded weight: 9,200 lb
Max takeoff weight: 12,100 lb
Powerplant: Packard Merlin
V-1650-7 liquid-cooled supercharged V-12, 1,695 hp
Max. speed: 437 mph; 25,000 ft
Cruise speed: 362 mph
Stall speed: 100 mph
Range: 1,650 mi with ext tanks
Service ceiling: 41,900 ft
Rate of climb: 3,200 ft/min
Wing loading: 39 lb/ft²
Power/mass: 0.18 hp/lb
Lift-to-drag ratio: 14.6
Source: wikipedia.org
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