P-51D MUSTANG(9003)

North American P-51C/D Mustang

Type:single-engined fighter

Accommodation:pilot

As detailed in the previous entry .the Mustang I’s performance had let it down in the high-altitude dogfights that characterised air combat in Europe.However.the airframe itself was more than sound.so the RAF quickly searched for a replacement powerplant and came up with the Merlin 61.once mated with this battle-proven powerplant.the aircraft’s performance was startling acommunique of the findings was immediately sent to North American.and the rest is history.Car builder packard was granted a licence to build the Merlin as the Packard V-1650.and North American followed the British lead in mating surplus P-51A airframes with the’new’powerplant The Merlin-powered P-51B made its combat debut over Europe in December 1943 just when the USAAF’s much-vaunted daylight bomber campaign had begun to falter due to incredible losses.Here was their ‘knight in shinning armour.’capable of escorting B-17s and B-24s throughout their hazardous missions. Over the next 19 months of war in Europe. The Mustang steadily became the dominant USAAF`fighter. The RAF.too.got their hands on well over 1000 Merlin-powered aircraft through Lend-Lease arrangemens. In total over 14.819 P-51s were built by North American.plus a Further 200 under-licence in Australia. The fighter continued to serve in a frontline capacity with theUSAF into the early 1950s.and further afield in Central and South America until the 1970s Today.over 160 Mustangs

remain airworthy .the majority of these being based in the USA.

Specification:

Dimensions:

Length:32 ft 9.5 in (9.81m)

Wingspan:37 ft 0.5 in (11.29 m)

Height:13 ft 8 in (4.10 m)

Weights:

Empty:7125 lb (3230 kg)

Max T/O:11 600 lb (5260 kg)

Performance:

Max speed:437 mph (703 kmh)

Range:1300 miles (2092 km)

First Flight Date: 13 october 1942

Surviving Airworthy Variant(s):

P-51C/D/K.TF-51D.ETF-51D.RB-51.F-6K.Cavalier.CA-17/-18(Australian-built)

Right:P-51D 44-74404 was issued to the RCAF as 9276 on 11 January 1951.and remained in their employ until 27 December 1957.Damaged in a crash-landing in 1960.the Mustang’s remains changed hands four times until acquired by present owner.Robert J Odegaard of kindred,North Dakota.He duly set about restoring the veteran fighter between 1990 and 1995.At least 20 other Mustangs supplied parts to 44-74404 during the rebuild.