North American P-51 Mustang
E32486
The North American P-51 Mustang is a World War II-era American long-range fighter aircraft renowned for its pivotal role in gaining air superiority over Europe.
Aliases (11)
- P-51 Mustang ×7
- North American Mustang ×1
- P-51A ×1
- P-51B ×1
- P-51B Mustang ×1
- P-51C ×1
- P-51C Mustang ×1
- P-51D ×1
- P-51D Mustang ×1
- P-51K ×1
- P-51K Mustang ×1
Statements (58)
| Predicate | Object |
|---|---|
| instanceOf |
World War II aircraft
→
fighter aircraft → single-seat fighter → |
| airSuperiorityContribution |
pivotal in gaining Allied air superiority over Europe
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|
| armament |
6× 0.50 in (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine guns
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|
| climbRate |
about 3,200 ft/min (16.3 m/s) for P-51D
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|
| cockpitType |
enclosed cockpit
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|
| countryOfOrigin |
United States
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|
| crew |
1
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|
| culturalSignificance |
iconic American fighter of World War II
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|
| currentUse |
civilian-owned historic aircraft
→
warbird and airshow aircraft → |
| designedBy |
Edgar Schmued
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|
| emptyWeight |
about 7,635 lb (3,463 kg) for P-51D
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|
| engineType |
liquid-cooled V-12 piston engine
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|
| firstFlightDate |
1940-10-26
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|
| fuelCapacity |
internal plus external drop tanks for long range
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|
| fuselageMaterial |
all-metal stressed-skin construction
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|
| grossWeight |
about 9,200 lb (4,173 kg) for P-51D
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|
| hardpoints |
up to 10 underwing and under-fuselage hardpoints depending on variant
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|
| height |
about 13 ft 8 in (4.17 m) for P-51D
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|
| introduced |
1942
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|
| landingGear |
retractable tailwheel landing gear
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|
| length |
about 32 ft 3 in (9.83 m) for P-51D
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|
| manufacturer |
North American Aviation
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|
| maxSpeed |
about 437 mph (703 km/h) at altitude for P-51D
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|
| notableEngine |
Allison V-1710
→
Packard V-1650 Merlin → |
| notableFeature |
bubble canopy on later variants
→
laminar-flow wing design → |
| notableRole |
escort for USAAF heavy bombers over Europe
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|
| notableTheater |
European Theater of Operations
→
Pacific Theater of Operations → |
| notableVariant |
A-36 Apache
→
F-6 (photo-reconnaissance variants) → P-51A → P-51B → P-51C → P-51D → P-51K → |
| powerplant |
1× Packard V-1650-7 Merlin V-12 for P-51D
→
|
| primaryUser |
Republic of Korea Air Force
→
Royal Air Force → Royal Canadian Air Force → United States Army Air Forces → |
| range |
over 1,600 mi (2,575 km) with external tanks for P-51D
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|
| retiredFromUSAF |
1957
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|
| role |
fighter-bomber
→
long-range escort fighter → |
| serviceCeiling |
about 41,900 ft (12,800 m) for P-51D
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|
| status |
retired from front-line military service
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|
| tailConfiguration |
conventional tail unit
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|
| typicalOrdnance |
bombs
→
rockets → |
| usedInConflict |
Korean War
→
World War II → |
| wingConfiguration |
low-wing monoplane
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|
| wingspan |
about 37 ft 0 in (11.28 m) for P-51D
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|