I personally think that the mustang is the best fighter of all time.Maybe not the most famous, but most lijkely the best.Well, even the military says so. I was watching a show on the military channel called "top tens" where they count down the top ten best fighters,bombers,tanks, etc.and i was watching the one about fighters and they the p-51 mustang came in first.

I'm developing a Program on the P-51 from it's birth in WW2 up to today. If you have any qiestions I may be able to answer them also if you have any tips or good information I may add it to my program.

THE P-51 WAS A GREAT FIGHTER OF WW2.THE EARLY P-51s HAD "TEETHING" TROUBLE.I THINK THERE WERE A FEW NORTH AMERICAN AVIATION CORP.TEST PILOTS KILLED TRYING TO FLY THE PROTOTYPE P-51s.THE P-51h IS MY FAVORITE P-51 VARIANT.

You are thinking about the Tuskeegee Airmen. The first all Afican American, fighter squadron. The original was the 99th. There leader was Benjamin O. Davis. They flew escort for the 15th airforce out of Ramatelli Italy. They had one ace, Lee Archer who passed away a few months ago.

I think that there was also a group of airmen who made history when, they became the first blacks to graduate from flight training and excelled in combat in europe. They deserve some credit and history has been long in giving it to them, so my hat is off to them.

The P-51 story is a real kick. So much has been said already, I tend to highlight others. That doesn't mean it's not a favorite of mine too. True, it could be out-turned, out climbed and out fought close-in by many worthy fighters. But how many could fly higher, faster, and farther?

My father, SSGT Pat Asher, was a crew chief on TF-51Hs & T-33s at Tyndall, 1951-55. Cecil J. Poss and Wrench007, PLEASE get in touch with me.

As a little boy, I used to watch the Idaho National Guard training with Mustangs high above my house. You could always hear them (with that beautiful, unique Packard Merlin sound) but you couldn't always see them because they were up so high. I had to use strong binoculars! This plane is by far my favorite of all time. Go to "Mustang Encounters" on the web and read about the many WW2 Mustang pilots kills. Many of these include the German ME262 jet in high altitude encounters! Great reading about the greatest fighter plane ever!

I was lucky enough to get a backseat ride in a cavalier conversion P-51D in 1964, still get a thrill when I think of it again.

The description is of the D model, but the plane shown in the color drawing is of a B or C, not an A. The B was manufactured at Inglewood, CA, not Palmdale, as J. Bassett says. The C model was, in fact, manufactured at the Dallas plant, as he correctly mentions.

I finally got to fly the P-51D in 1945. I It was transferred out of the Reserve unit after I had 3+ 45 hrs in it. Great A/C! In 1952 I was at Tyndal field and flew about 500+ hours in the P51H model. It was the fastist a/c of the wwii. 487 @25000 feet. Another great a/c. Retired in September 1971 after 30 yrs.

How would this aircraft stack up to the fighter planes of this decade? Would it handle better or worse? Speed?

Both my Dad and I are military pepole. My father flew the P-51 and several other aircraft. He recently gave me the original Pilot training manual and the Pilot's Flight Operation instructions manual. I wasn't aware that the model was for the F-51-H aircraft. But I treasure these two manuals.

The Mustang was the greatest aircraft of World War II. It went from design to prototype in just 117 days and first flight in just 178 days thats unheard of at the time. It was developed for the British after North American approached them and tried to sell them the B-25 Mitchell. They were not intrested instead they asked if they could manufacture the Tomahawk under license from Curtiss. North American replied that they could make a new and better aircraft in less time than it would take to tool up for the Tomahawk.

1952 - Crew chief'd a P51D at K46 (Wonju , Korea. What a plane! Got to taxi each day between overnight storage and sortie area. Can't remember how many times I wanted to pull out to the runway and shove the throttle forward and gently pull the stick back!! Would probably be dead or still in Leavenworth. Would have been worth it.
Great book: "Flying Legends" published by MBI tells the P-51 story with GREAT pictures.

I had always heard that the air scoop was placed mid-ship because the engine was going to be behind the pilot and from the pictures it would have been possible. I also read that the British turned down our P-51 because because they wanted the engine in the front and we refused. Knowing what I read and believed, why is the air-scoop amid-ship and howe did it function properly ?? I was 11 at the end of the war.

Yes, as Leo below says, three lines for the Mustang? Saw one a couple of days from this date, at Foxley's Farm airshow in Leicestershire, beautiful, lovely sound from what may or may not have been a proper Merlin, but undoubtedly wonderful to see!(And hear)

Dive was red-lined at 571 for the P-51 B (equal to the Macchi C 202) and 533 mph for the D model. Of course they could dive another 100 mph faster (around 630mph) with some risk to the American pilots.

I'm looking for P-51D Mustang engine mounts (left and right hand engine mount).

Can you be of any help.

Thanks, Jean

Barely 3 lines of history for the Mustang? Bob Hoover and his yellow Mustang, best demonstration ever.(I never saw Zura fly) The allied fighter which projected power and achieved air supremacy over enemy skies. Blue nose, red nose, red tail,whatever,Greatjob.