North American A-36 Mustang
The North American P-51 Mustang is widely regarded as one of the finest piston-engine fighters ever built, especially after being fitted with the British Rolls-Royce Merlin engine partway through its development. That engine swap gave it the speed and high-altitude performance needed to escort heavy bombers all the way to their targets deep in Germany and back, something earlier escort fighters couldn't manage. Its long range came partly from drop tanks that could be jettisoned once empty, extending its combat radius far beyond that of shorter-range fighters. Today it remains one of the most popular warbirds at air shows, prized for both its performance and its elegant lines.
Did you know?
Fitting the Mustang with a British Rolls-Royce Merlin engine gave it the range and altitude to escort bombers deep into Germany and back.
Specifications
| Length | 9.8 m (32 ft) |
|---|---|
| Wingspan | 11.3 m (37 ft) |
| Height | 4.1 m (13 ft) |
| Persons on board | 1 |
| Crew | 1 |
| Maximum take-off weight | 5 t |
| Range | 1,300 NM (2,408 km) |
| Maximum speed | 380 kt (704 km/h) |
| Service ceiling | 41,900 ft (12,771 m) |
| Rate of climb | 2,800 ft/min (14.2 m/s) |
| Take-off distance | 330 m (1,083 ft) |
| Landing distance | 520 m (1,706 ft) |
| Fuel capacity | 680 l |
| Engines | 1x Rolls-Royce/Packard Merlin V-1650 |
| Units built | 500 |
Curated by CatchFlights from manufacturer documents, ICAO Doc 8643 and reference works; values are left out where no source could confirm them. Sources are listed on our credits page.
In CatchFlights
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