P-51 Mustang vol2 - Jalutage ringi

P-51D Mustang
Riik	USA
Tüüp	Ühe mootoriga hävitaja
Kirjeldus	Album 47 Walk-around fotod P-51 Mustang

2007 P-51 Mustang on Põhja-Ameerika lennunduse projekteeritud Ameerika hävituslennuk, mida kasutati Teise maailmasõja ajal. See töötati välja selleks, et rahuldada tungivat vajadust täiendavate Briti võitlejate järele 1940. aastal Suurbritannia lahingu ajal. Kuigi tänu oma suurepärasele aerodünaamilisele peenusele on see madalal kõrgusel tõhus, piirab selle Allisoni mootor, mille ülelaadimissüsteem on vähe arenenud, esialgu selle kasutamist õhu üleoleku hävitajana. Pärast suurepärase Briti Rolls Royce Merlini mootori kohandamist on P-51D sai eskortlennukiks, mida Ameerika Ühendriigid vajasid oma suurte päevaste reidide saatmiseks strateegiliste pommitajatega Saksamaa kohal. 1944. aasta alguses mängis ta otsustavat rolli õhu paremuse saavutamisel, mis võimaldas sissetungi Euroopasse. See on arvult üks kolmest suuremast Teise maailmasõja Ameerika võitlejast, keda on toodetud 15 586 eksemplari2. Selle peamised varad on kiirus ja eriti selle väga suur tegevusulatus. Paljud peavad seda kõigi aegade parimaks propelleri võitlejaks. Nimi Mustang lennukist annetavad britid, ameeriklased panid sellele enne Briti nime kasutuselevõttu esmakordselt nimeks Apache.

Allikas: P-51D Mustang Vikipeedias

P-51D Mustang 1

P-51D Mustang 2

P-51D Mustang 3

P-51D Mustang 4

P-51D Mustang 5

P-51D Mustang 6

P-51D Mustang 7

P-51D Mustang 8

P-51D Mustang 9

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Oota, otsid P-51 Mustangi...

P-51A "väärismetall" kõnnib ringi
Fotograaf	Jeff Herne
Lokaliseerimine	Teadmata
Fotod	12

P-51A Precious Metal 01

P-51A Precious Metal 02

P-51A Precious Metal 03

P-51A Precious Metal 04

P-51A Precious Metal 05

P-51A Precious Metal 06

P-51A Precious Metal 07

P-51A Precious Metal 08

P-51A Precious Metal 09

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Vaata ka:

The Bomber’s Guardian Angel

2007 Põhja-Ameerika P-51 Mustang was arguably the most influential and versatile American fighter aircraft of World War II. While early variants were held back by mediocre high-altitude engines, mating the sleek airframe with the British Rolls-Royce Merlin engine transformed the Mustang into a true masterpiece of engineering. With its exceptional speed, agility, and unprecedented long-range capability, the P-51 was able to escort Allied heavy bombers deep into the heart of Germany and back, completely reshaping the strategic air war over Europe and crippling the Luftwaffe.

Attribute	Technical Specification (P-51D)
Rolli	Long-Range Escort Fighter / Fighter-Bomber
Meeskonna	1 (Pilot)
Mootor	1 × Packard V-1650-7 liquid-cooled V12 (License-built Rolls-Royce Merlin, 1,490 hp)
Maximum Speed	703 km/h (437 mph) at 7,600 m
Combat Range	~2,655 km (1,650 miles) with external drop tanks
Service Ceiling	12,800 m (41,900 ft)
Armament	6 × .50 cal (12.7 mm) Browning AN/M2 machine guns
Payload Capacity	Up to 907 kg (2,000 lbs) of bombs or 10 × 5-inch T34 unguided rockets

Design Engineering: Laminar Flow and the Meredith Effect

Laminar Flow Wing: The Mustang featured a cutting-edge, ultra-smooth wing profile designed to delay the onset of air turbulence. This advanced aerodynamic design drastically minimized drag, unlocking incredible fuel efficiency and high speeds for a single-engine fighter.
The Meredith Effect: The radiator scoop beneath the belly of the fuselage was an aerodynamic marvel. As air passed through the duct and was heated by the engine core, it expanded and exited the rear flap, creating a small amount of jet-like physical thrust that effectively countered the radiator’s drag.
Bubble Canopy Visibility: The definitive P-51D variant replaced the older, framed “razorback” cockpit design with a swept-back, single-piece bubble canopy. This dramatic engineering change granted pilots an uncompromised, 360-degree view of the sky during intense dogfights.
Fuselage Fuel Tank: To achieve its legendary escort ranges, North American packed a massive 85-gallon fuel tank right behind the pilot’s seat. While this temporarily shifted the center of gravity and made the plane highly unstable when full, it allowed the Mustang to fly further than any fighter before it.

Operational History: Escorting B-17s and Tokyo Raids

Turning the Tide Over Europe: Before the P-51 arrived, Allied B-17 and B-24 bombers were suffering devastating losses beyond the range of standard escorts. Operating under Eighth Air Force commanders like General Jimmy Doolittle, Mustangs hunted down Luftwaffe interceptors, completely breaking the back of Germany’s air defenses.
The Red Tails Legacy: The P-51 was famously flown by the 332nd Fighter Group, known as the Tuskegee Airmen. These elite African-American aviators painted the tails of their Mustangs bright red and earned a legendary reputation for their fierce, disciplined protection of vulnerable bomber formations.
Pacific Long-Range Escorts: In the final chapters of the war, P-51s were deployed to the Pacific island of Iwo Jima. Flying grueling, multi-hour over-water missions, they acted as long-range guardians for B-29 Superfortresses conducting devastating high-altitude bombing raids across mainland Japan.
Into the Jet Age: Even as jet engines began to dominate the skies, the Mustang’s rugged build and precise strike capabilities kept it in high demand. It saw extensive front-line service as a ground-attack and close-air-support asset during the Korean War, solidifying its legendary multi-role pedigree.