About
The Mustang, originally designed to British specifications with the Allison V-1710 engine, faced altitude challenges. A pivotal experiment saw the British replace it with the Rolls-Royce Merlin engine, transforming the Mustang's performance, reaching over 400 mph. Enhanced with the K-14 gunsight and six .50 caliber Browning machine guns, it became a game-changing force in the European air war. Prior to its service, 8th Air Force bomber units suffered 77% casualties from 1942-1944; however, the P-51 Mustang reversed this trend. The Mustang's success in eliminating the Luftwaffe earned it the nickname "Little Friends." The impact of the Mustang is evident in the staggering numbers—more than 15,500 were ordered and built during WWII.
Specifications
Specifications
- Number Built: 15,586 total (1,600 of this variant)
- Year Produced: 1944
- Serial Number: 44-72483
- Crew: (1) Pilot
- Current Pilots: Dimensions
- Length: 32 ft. 3 in.
- Wingspan: 37 ft. 0 in.
- Empty Weight: 7,635 lbs.
- Loaded Weight: 12,100 lbs.
- Engine: 1x Packard-built V-1650-7 Merlin liquid-cooled, supercharged, V-12 inline piston engine
- Engine Power: 1,490 hp; 1,720 hp with War Emergency Power Performance
- Cruising Speed: 362 mph
- Max Speed: 440 mph - Range: 1,155 miles without drop tanks
- Ceiling: 41,900 ft
- Rate of Climb: 3,475 ft./min. initial Armament
- 6x 0.50 caliber machine guns -- 3x in each wing
- up to 1,000 lbs. of bombs carried on two hardpoints (one under each wing)
