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Author Topic: Lightweight Mustangs  (Read 1724 times)

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psychoslaphead

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Lightweight Mustangs
« on: November 11, 2014, 12:37:51 PM »

The P-51 as point source interceptor - F, G and J models.  I'd love to see these done, as no one has ever attempted these in any sim.  Some people like to think of the P-51H as the ultimate Mustang, but that isn't true according to the one person that flew every model - NAA test pilot Bob Chilton.  The "F" model was his favorite version.  Read this and weep (from his memoirs):

"It was not uncommon to climb out of Mines Field at 7,500 fpm.  The F handled like a finely tuned race car and it was hard to find an angle of attack that would keep the aircraft slow enough to achieve it's 250 mph climb out speed.  It was not uncommon on test flights to climb to 45,000 ft..."

He felt that the plane never got into production because the USAAF didn't like that it was designed to British load factors (NAA used Spitfire weight and loadings as the design target).

Ultimate Mustang?  Hell, it would have just spanked any piston fighter of WWII...

And also, why does the 1C base model P-51B have the completely wrong wing (from a "D")?

I would post pics but the board says "Sorry, you are not allowed to post external links." after inviting me to upload them with the "Add image to post" button.




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baronbutcher

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Re: Lightweight Mustangs
« Reply #1 on: November 11, 2014, 05:46:58 PM »

Interesting I never heard of P-51 G and J models.  As far as I know in the F was used in wording for tactical reconnaissance role. (F-6)  There was XP-51F, XP-51G and XP-51J. An XP-51F (one of three built) with the three-bladed Aeroproducts propeller unit The lightweight Mustangs had an all-new wing design. The wing airfoils were switched to the NACA 66,2-(1.8)15.5 a=.6 at the root and the NACA NACA 66,2-(1.8)12 a=.6 at the tip. These airfoils were designed to give more low-drag laminar flow than the previous NAA/NACA 45-100 airfoils. In addition, the wing planform was a simple trapezoid, with no leading extension in the wing root region. In 1943, North American submitted a proposal to redesign the P-51D as model NA-105, which was accepted by the USAAF. Modifications included changes to the cowling, a simplified undercarriage with smaller wheels and disc brakes, and a larger canopy and an armament of four .50 Brownings. In total the design was some 1,600 pounds lighter than the P-51D. In test flights the XP-51F achieved 491 mph (790 km/h) at 21,000 feet. The designation XP-51F was assigned to prototypes powered with V-1650 engines (a small number of XP-51Fs were passed to the British as the Mustang V), and XP-51G to those with reverse lend/lease Merlin RM 14 SM engines. A third lightweight prototype powered by an Allison V-1710-119 engine was added to the development program. This aircraft was designated XP-51J. Since the engine was insufficiently developed, the XP-51J was loaned to Allison for engine development. None of these experimental lightweights went into production.
From 1947, the newly formed USAF Strategic Air Command employed Mustangs alongside F-6 Mustangs and F-82 Twin Mustangs, due to their range capabilities. In 1948, the designation P-51 (P for pursuit) was changed to F-51 (F for fighter), and the existing F designator for photographic reconnaissance aircraft was dropped because of a new designation scheme throughout the USAF. Aircraft still in service in the USAF or Air National Guard (ANG) when the system was changed included: F-51B, F-51D, F-51K, RF-51D (formerly F-6D), RF-51K (formerly F-6K), and TRF-51D (two-seat trainer conversions of F-6Ds). Quote; 'Ultimate Mustang?  Hell, it would have just spanked any piston fighter of WWII' - well production version with guns etc and equipment is different to protypes and test models.  I don't think it would have been any so much better than some of the other ultimate WW2 fighters just my opinion and after all in here say: quite a few manufacturers, test pilots and nations at the end of the war all have what they believe is ultimate, depends on who's opinion - spanked! ;) More Corsair, Spitfire & Ta152 fan than those ponies! :o Still interesting request on a nice plane. :D Still like to see the P-51 H 8) which was a production fighter although some P-51Hs were issued to operational units, none saw combat in World War II, and in postwar service, most were issued to reserve units. The P-51H was not used for combat in the Korean War despite its improved handling characteristics, since the P-51D was available in much larger numbers and was a proven commodity. Cheers   :)
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Typhoon Ib

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Re: Lightweight Mustangs
« Reply #2 on: November 12, 2014, 11:33:20 AM »

no link because you are new, and it has happened that new users or bots post links to "click this for free money and popcorn" links.
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psychoslaphead

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Re: Lightweight Mustangs
« Reply #3 on: November 12, 2014, 09:30:52 PM »

well production version with guns etc and equipment is different to protypes and test models.  I don't think it would have been any so much better than some of the other ultimate WW2 fighters just my opinion and after all in here say: quite a few manufacturers, test pilots and nations at the end of the war all have what they believe is ultimate, depends on who's opinion - spanked! ;) More Corsair, Spitfire & Ta152 fan than those ponies!

Yeah everyone has their favorites (I'm a fan of all of the above), but any of them able to get to 20,000 ft in 3 and a half minutes and then touch 500 mph in level flight?  Nah didn't think so...

Cool anecdote on ground engine run testing the F.  They had a really hard time keeping it strapped down - the plane was trying to jump off the ground, which impressed the techs.

:o Still interesting request on a nice plane. :D Still like to see the P-51 H 8) which was a production fighter although some P-51Hs were issued to operational units, none saw combat in World War II, and in postwar service, most were issued to reserve units. The P-51H was not used for combat in the Korean War despite its improved handling characteristics, since the P-51D was available in much larger numbers and was a proven commodity. Cheers   :)

The H was a mixed bag to the USAF in postwar acceptance tests.   It was deemed "an acceptable, but not desirable, replacement for the D model unless the use of water injection and manifold pressures exceeding 67" hg were permitted."  It would pull 80" with water and the performance gains were significant, but without it, it didn't offer any improvement over the D.  Someone made an amazing H for CFS3, so the model is out there  :)
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mexchiwa

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Re: Lightweight Mustangs
« Reply #4 on: November 13, 2014, 01:31:16 AM »

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