Cavalier F-51D Mustang
Cavalier Aircraft · United States · first flew 1968 · fighter
The Cavalier F-51D Mustang was a refurbished and updated version of the North American P-51D Mustang produced by Cavalier Aircraft Corporation in the late 1960s for export counter-insurgency missions. Cavalier added wingtip fuel tanks, upgraded avionics, and hardpoints for modern ordnance.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 9.83 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- P-51 Mustang airframe upgraded by Cavalier with tip tanks and updated equipment
- Classic WWII fighter silhouette with elliptical-tapered wing
- Operated by Latin American and African air forces post-war
Externally very similar to the standard P-51D; distinguishable by large underwing pylons, wingtip fuel tanks, and sometimes a two-seat extended canopy fairing in the Mustang II conversion.
Specifications
- The Cavalier F-51D Mustang has a length of 9.83 m (32 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 11.28 m (37 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 703 km/h (437 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
As the USAF retired its P-51s, Cavalier Aircraft recognised a market for updated Mustangs among nations requiring affordable ground-attack aircraft for counter-insurgency operations. Cavalier procured surplus airframes and rebuilt them to a higher specification, and the USAF also used Cavalier to supply refurbished Mustangs to allied nations under Military Assistance Program contracts.
Variants
Cavalier produced several grades of rebuilt Mustang including the Mustang II with a two-seat option and the turboprop-engined Enforcer; the basic F-51D rebuild was the most common.
Where you'll see it
Cavalier Mustangs were supplied to Bolivia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Indonesia, and other nations, some remaining in front-line service into the 1980s. The basic airframe's simplicity made it popular with smaller air arms.
Related aircraft
- Aeritalia F-104S Starfighter
- Canadair CF-5 Freedom Fighter
- Canadair CF-5A Freedom Fighter
- Grumman EA-6B Prowler
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