Sat in P-51D cockpit, very unqiue experience, some air show.
Sitting in History.
Love 2 fly back seat in plane BUT cramped.
Neat.

...flew the NA A36 "Apache" just for a short time but enjoyed every minute of it! This was with the Allison engine then the Brits put a RollsRoyce in it and really made an airplane out of it!!!

I was lucky enough to check out in the P51 in 1982 after about 5000 hrs in high performance jets like the F5 and F104 as well as the ubiquitous T33. While in performance it was like a T33 with a Mack truck engine up front -it was a "Mustang" -with all the history and mystique that involves. I had soloed one 28 years earlier as a private pilot -I think the owner waqs hoping for thye insurance -but THIS time -I was qualified -and it was a delight!
This was done for a Canadian TV show called Thrill of a Lifetime -and it truly was!

The A or B model is pictured but the discription is the D model. I loved that airplane.

My dad worked for North American during World War II at Grand Prairie also. He was a machinist. Some where my sister has a picture of the first P51 prototype with the crew that built her. My dad is in the picture. I was born in Fort Worth in 1946 and we lived in Arlington.

My Dad worked for North American Aircraft at their Grand Prarie, Texas plant during WWII. He build the wooden frame for the oil cooler scoop under the plane's belly. My Mom would leave a little early to pick Dad up from work and park on an incline across the road from the north end of the North-South runway. I still get a thrill remembering sitting there and watching these beautiful, shiney brand new P-51s take off with a roar and a flash of silver!!!

The two aircraft in the drawing appear to be early P51A models with the allison engine and shallow radiator housing underneath. Also the air intake inlet is over the nose Vs. the later B,C,D, models with merlin engines having the chin air inlet under the prop. I believe the five slash markings on the rear fuselage appear to be that of a CBI 14th AAF group (China).Note the DF loop antenas on the top of the rear fuselages as well. The color aircraft C5L, depicted below that is a B model{Palmdale Ca.factory?) or, a C model (Dallas factory) no outward difference,but with the later and more powerful merlin engine. It has the larger radiator housing underneath,that had laminer flow qualities somewhat like the wing, producing less drag.Billy,you are right on!A real cool machine! And yes, the D model was produced with a bubble canopy.

The Mustang is the coolest plane ever made!!!!

hi, i am building a scale p-51d rc aircraft and would like to add as much detail as possible. now my question is did they have navigation and landing lights. i thought the landing lights were on the landing gear struts but a friend of mine says no. can you answer this for me?
thanks
Dan

ok that is not a P-51D the D models have the complete bubble canapy
is there 3 veiw of one with the bubble canapy