North American P-51D Mustang
North American Aviation · United States · first flew 1944 · fighter
The definitive Mustang, combining the Merlin's long-range performance with a bubble canopy and six-gun armament to produce the pre-eminent Allied escort fighter of 1944–45.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Teardrop bubble canopy over a cut-down rear fuselage — 360-degree unobstructed pilot visibility is the defining visual change from the B/C |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Teardrop bubble canopy over a cut-down rear fuselage — 360-degree unobstructed pilot visibility is the defining visual change from the B/C
- Six .50 cal M2 Browning muzzles equally spaced in the wing leading edge — two more than the B/C, clearly countable in close-up
- Ventral chin scoop unchanged, but the fuselage aft of the cockpit is lower and less slab-sided than the B/C razorback
The bubble canopy and cut-down spine define the D against the B/C. Against the Spitfire: the Mustang's chin scoop and longer, slimmer fuselage are distinctive; the wing is less elliptical.
Specifications
- The North American P-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
Entering service in March 1944, the D equipped most USAAF Eighth Air Force fighter groups for the remainder of the war and continued flying with numerous air forces into the 1980s. Its combination of range, speed, and firepower made it the standard by which all other fighters were judged.
Variants
D-5 through D-30 NA; D-25 and later standardised with the K-14 gyroscopic gunsight. H model introduced a lighter laminar-flow fuselage. P-51K used an Aeroproducts propeller identifiable by its different blade shape.
Where you'll see it
The most numerous airworthy WWII fighter type; dozens fly in the UK and USA. The BBMF does not operate a Mustang, but private collections at Duxford and North Weald regularly display Ds.
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