Was The P-51 Mustang The Best Fighter?
The sleek P-51 Mustang is perhaps the best all-around fighter of World War II. In 1939, British officials approached North American Aviation in desperate need of additional aircraft for the war in Europe. Just 117 days after the order was placed, the first P-51 was rolled out of the factory.
Why was P-51 Mustang the best?
Their design, dubbed Mustang by the British, had a low-drag laminar-flow wing and an efficient low-drag engine cooling system that gave it exceptional speed and range. It had a maximum speed of about 390 miles (630 km) per hour and a combat range of roughly 750 miles (1,200 km).
What was considered the best fighter plane of ww2?
The most capable fighter of WWII was the American F4U-4 Corsair carrier-based fighter-bomber, designed and produced by Chance Vought. Between 1942 and 1953 more than 12,500 aircraft were manufactured. The fighter combined good maneuverability, very dangerous armament (six .
Was the P-51 Mustang better than the Corsair?
Many Navy and Marine Corps aviators will tell you the Corsair was, hands down, the better fighter. Vought’s gull winged fighter was designed for speed and maneuverability and first flew in May 1940. The Corsair was the first U.S. single engine fighter to exceed 400 miles an hour in level flight.
One big concern was that the aircraft would need to land around 90mph and the stall speed was 82mph, not much of a margin. Stall speed margin was extremely low, too low for safety. Rudder control at low speed and high angles of attack was inadequate.
What plane did German pilots fear the most?
They called it a ‘fork-tailed devil. ‘ Key point: The P-38 was a forerunner of modern multi-role fighters.
Was the P-51 a tank buster?
No. P-51s were much too valuable in what we would call today the air superiority role than to be used as “tank killers”. The P-51 was in fact ill-suited to the role of close support even though that was the role the first operational models were assigned to.
What was faster Spitfire or Mustang?
The Mustang was also much quicker than the Spitfire, with a much longer combat range. The Mustang also flew much higher than the Spitfire, giving it a noticeable advantage. North American also equipped the Mustang with more weaponry, as well as a much faster climb rate.
What was faster the P-51 Mustang or the Spitfire?
The maximum speed of a P51D was 437mph whilst the Spitfire was slightly faster at 448mph. For interception, this was clearly quite important. However, the P51D was generally more specialized than the Spitfire. In it’s main role, the Mustang proved itself as a superb escort fighter in Allied bombing raids over Germany.
What is the most powerful Mustang ever built?
The 2013 and 2014 Shelby GT500s are two of the most powerful and fastest mass-produced Mustangs ever. A 2013 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 produces a stratospheric 662 horsepower with its supercharged 5.8L V8, making it one of the most powerful Mustangs ever.
What was America’s best plane in ww2?
The long-range P-51 Mustang fighter was invaluable to the Allied victory, enabling resumption of strategic bombing after heavy losses suffered by unescorted bombers in 1943. Developed for export to Britain, models modified by the British to use Rolls-Royce Merlin engines became America’s most capable wartime fighters.
What did the Japanese call the P-51?
A North American P-51 nicknamed “My Girl” takes off from Iwo Jima, in the Bonin Islands . Iwo Jima Japan, 1945.
Did Jimmy Stewart own a P-51?
HISTORY. Thunderbird was owned by WWII Brigadier General, bomber pilot and academy award winner Jimmy Stewart. Jackie Cochran, the Speed Queen, also owned Thunderbird. Warren Pietsch has engaged AirCorps Aviation to restore his P-51C to honor this historic aircraft.
Who was the deadliest pilot in ww2?
Erich Hartmann
While serving in Germany’s Luftwaffe in World War II, Erich Hartmann flew more than 1,400 missions in the Messerschmitt Bf 109, enabling him to score an astonishing 352 kills. How did Hartmann get so good at dominating the skies over the Eastern Front?
Who has shot down the most enemy aircraft?
Erich Hartmann is the most successful fighter pilot of all times – with 352 kills. A number that will never be surpassed.
What is the hardest plane to pilot?
The hardest planes to fly include personal aircraft such as the wildly popular Cessna 150/152, Cessna 162, and the Luscombe Silvaire. The hardest commercial aircraft to fly is the BAC Concorde. And the hardest plane to fly in the world is the US military-used U-2 Spy Plane.
What was the most feared tank ever?
Germany’s Tiger tank, whether in the form of the Tiger I or later Tiger II (King Tiger), was the most feared tank of WWII.
What is the most feared tank today?
Leopard 2A7 is the deadliest main battle tank that exists. In multi-national training, the weapon performs better than the US M1A2 SEP, the British Challenger 2, and the French Leclerc. Germany has already upgraded 20 Leopard in the 2A7 version and plans to upgrade 50 or 150 more.
What was the most feared American tank in WW2?
2/10 WW2 – M18 Hellcat
Proving itself as the most effective tank destroyer of WW2, M18 Hellcats compromised overall protection for firepower and maneuverability.
What year Mustang was the fastest?
Top 3 Fastest Ford Mustangs Ever Made
- Ford Mustang Mach I (2004) – 151 MPH – One of the Fastest Ford Mustangs. One of the fastest Mustang variants was the 2004 Mach I.
- Ford Mustang Bullitt (2019) – 163 MPH. It is incredible how tiny details can make a big difference.
- Ford Mustang SVT Cobra R (1995) – 160 MPH.
What is the fastest Mustang in history?
The current Shelby Mustang GT500 is the fastest production Mustang ever made. It’s also the most powerful street-legal Ford ever. In all of its almost 60 years of production, this is the pinnacle of Ford’s performance and power.
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