Its just a romance between myself and the P-51

[Steve M]

Dougs post on the beaver, led me here. Are the Spitfire and the P-51 really so different? Other than armament and age?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xITLBRkO ... re=related

[patchz]

I've always felt the two were kindred spirits, with the Mustang being slightly more sleek and esthetically pleasing.

But if you close your eyes and just listen to either one pass, you can't help but smile.

[Hagar]

Dougs post on the beaver, led me here. Are the Spitfire and the P-51 really so different? Other than armament and age?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xITLBRkO ... re=related


Part 1 of a commentary which refers to the Spitfire and the Mustang seems to say the Mustang had range but the Spitfire could turn on a dime..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKNl7OJs ... re=related

That would depend on which Mark/model of the aircraft you're talking about. The P-51A was a very different aeroplane to the P-51D in the same way as the Spitfire Mk I compared with the Mk XIV or XVI. Jeffrey Quill says in his autobiography that a Spitfire F.24 weighed the same as a Mk I plus 36 passengers and all their luggage and was still 100mph faster.

A lot is made of the Mustang's laminar flow wing but [url=http://www.nationalaviation.org/atwood-john/]John Leland

[Flying Trucker]

Wonderful post Steve...

If I remember correctly the North American P51 "Mustang" was a joint British and American design and not just by engine only.

We used to hear a lot about the turning ability of the Japanese Zero but at the end of World War Two when the Axis Aircraft were compared to the Allied Aircraft by several different Test Pilots from several different nations the late model Spitfire and Seafire could out turn and out fly the Zero and anything else.

Also the Hawker Sea Fury was in many opinions from many aviators the finest radial engine fighter produced.

Now to get down to aesthetically pleasing neither the Spitfire or the Mustang can hold a candle to a DeHavilland of Canada DHC-3 single radial engine Otter....

Sorry to get so long winded Steve....

Thanks for those Links everyone...

Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug

[Hagar]

If I remember correctly the North American P51 "Mustang" was a joint British and American design and not just by engine only.

The Mustang was an American design to a British specification.

[Skunkworks]

[color=#0000ff]Super post Steve. Besides all this wonderful and informative commentary, by watching the first video, I learned that I was landing my Ponies with the tail too high in the air.

[Steve M]

Thanks for all the replies and the additional info. I think it must be that air scoop Hagar mentioned, combined with the exhaust ports, that gives the P-51 a shark like appearance.