P51D Mustang
The P-51 was an immediate success. It outperformed even the Spitfire, but the Allison engine placed limitations on the performance. In England, a mock-up was devised to use the Rolls Royce Merlin in the P-51 airframe. One concept was to locate the new engine behind the cockpit, but this idea was rejected and the Merlin was mounted in the conventional position in the nose. Four airframes were adapted in England to take the Merlin engine. These planes had deep intakes below the engine for carburetor air. In the meantime, North American had undertaken a similar conversion project and was building two Packard Merlin-powered Mustangs. The results of the British tests were passed on to North American; and even before the Army's Merlin -powered Mustangs had flown, the U. S. Army ordered 2,200 of the more powerful fighters. For a short time, this model was designated P-78, then reclassed as P-51B.
Specifications:
North American P-51D Mustang
Dimensions:
Wing span: 37 ft .5 in (11.3 m)
Length: 32 ft 2.5 in (9.82 m)
Height: 13 ft 8 in (4.17 m)
Weights:
Empty: 7,125 lb. (3,232 kg)
Operational: 11,600 lb (5,266 kg)
Performance:
Maximum Speed: 437 mph (703 km/h)
Service Ceiling: 41,900 ft. (12,780 m)
Range: 1,300 miles (2,092 km)
Powerplant:
Rolls Royce - Packard-built V-1650-7 Merlin 1,590 hp
12 cylinder Vee engine.
Armament:
Six .50 calibre machine guns, external bomb load of 2,000 lbs. (908 kg.)
or drop tanks.
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