North American P-51 Mustang

Mustang Photographer: Jim Koepnick RAF roundel Royal Air Force
Specifications / Technical Data / Description
Nicknamed
‘Peter Flash Dash’ (P-Fiftyone-D), 'Stang', ‘Spam Can’
Manufacturer
North American Aviation
Inglewood California and Dallas, Texas, USA
Designed by
Raymond Rice and Edgar Schmued (1939)
Role
Long-range escort fighter
Crew
1
Engine
1 x Packard V-1650-7 (licence-built Rolls-Royce Merlin 66) liquid-cooled V-12 piston engine
Engine Power
Takeoff power: 1,044 kW (1,400 hp)
1,280 kW (1,720 hp) at War emergency power
Max level speed
710 km/h (440 mph) at 7,467 m (24,500 ft)
Cruising speed
583 km/h (362 mph)
Climb rate
  • Initial:
    17.66 m/s (3,477 ft/min)
  • At sea level:
    18.1 m/s (3,567 ft/min)
  • At 3,000 m (9,843 ft):
    15.7 m/s (3,083 ft/min)
  • At 6,000 m (1,9685 ft):
    12.4 m/s (2,433 ft/min)
Time to altitude
6,096 m (20,000 ft) in 6.4 mins
Service Ceiling
11,125 m (36,500 ft)
Range
1,529 km (950 miles) on internal fuel
Empty Weight
3,232 kg (7,125 lbs)
Max. Takeoff Weight
5,262 kg (11,600 lbs)
Wing Span
11.28 m (37 ft 0 in)
Wing Area
21.7 m² (234 ft²)
Length
9.83 m (32 ft 3 in)
Height
2.64 m (8 ft 8 in)
Armament
  • 6 × .50 caliber AN/M2 Browning machine guns, firing 1,840 total rounds (380 rounds for each on the inboard pair and 270 rounds for each of the outer two pair) with a velocity of 890 m/s (2,910 ft/sec)
  • 6 x unguided rockets in two launchers that can be jettisoned
  • Up to two 225kg (500 lb) general purpose bombs OR up to two 550kg (1,000 lb) general purpose bombs OR 2 x drop tanks
  • Data for version
    P-51 D Mustang
    First combat mission
    10 May 1942
    Final delivery (all variants)
    November 1945
    Total production
    15,586
    ICAO Code
    P51
    Production Variants
    P-51A, P-51B, P-51C, P-51D, P-51H, P-51K

    RAF Mustangs: Mk.I-IV

    Commonweath Aircraft Corporation (CAC) Mustangs: CA-17Mk.20 A68-1 to A68-80, CA-18Mk.21,
    CA-18Mk.22, CA-18Mk.23 (built under license in Australia)
    P-51 Mustang blueprint