P-51 Mustang vol2 - Walk Around

P-51D Mustang
País	Eua
Tipo	Caça monomotor
Descrição	Álbum 47 walk-around fotos do P-51 Mustang

O P-51 Mustang é um caça americano projetado pela Aviação Norte-Americana que foi usado durante a Segunda Guerra Mundial. Foi desenvolvido para atender à necessidade urgente de mais caças britânicos em 1940 durante a Batalha da Grã-Bretanha. Embora eficiente em baixa altitude graças à sua grande finesse aerodinâmica, seu motor Allison, cujo sistema de sobrecarga é pouco evoluído, inicialmente limita seu uso como um caça de superioridade aérea. Após a adaptação do excelente motor Britânico Rolls Royce Merlin, o P-51D tornou-se a aeronave de escolta que os Estados Unidos precisavam para acompanhar seus grandes ataques diurnos de bombardeiros estratégicos sobre a Alemanha. No início de 1944, ele teve uma parte decisiva na obtenção da superioridade aérea que permitiu a invasão da Europa. É um dos três maiores lutadores americanos da Segunda Guerra Mundial em número, com 15.586 cópias produzidas2. Seus principais ativos são sua velocidade e especialmente seu grande raio de ação. Muitos o consideram o melhor caça da hélice de todos os tempos. O nome Mustang da aeronave é dada pelos britânicos, os americanos tendo primeiro batizado apache antes de adotar o nome britânico.

Fonte: Mustang P-51D na Wikipédia

P-51D Mustang 1

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P-51D Mustang 6

P-51D Mustang 7

P-51D Mustang 8

P-51D Mustang 9

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P-51A “Precious Metal” Walk Around
Fotógrafo	Jeff Herne
Localização	Desconhecido
Fotos	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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Veja também:

The Bomber’s Guardian Angel

O Mustang P-51 norte-americano 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)
Papel	Long-Range Escort Fighter / Fighter-Bomber
tripulação	1 (Pilot)
Motor	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)
Armamento	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.