Have you heard of the P-51 Mustang? This plane became one of the greatest warplanes in history because of its many successful missions during WW2. Did you know this plane could go 437 mph in 1945? In this paper you’ll learn about when it was made, why it was great, when and why it left service, and its capabilities and armaments. The war was going bad for the British. In 1940, they called an order for a new fighter. The P-51 was designed throughout 1940-41. At first, the P-51A used an Allison 12-cylinder engine. It was exceptional at low to medium altitudes. However, at high altitudes it performed poorly. To improve the plane, NAA tried putting the legendary Rolls-Royce Merlin engine into the Mustang making the P-51B. The rest is …show more content…
The last P-51 left the Air National Guard in 1957. Why was this great plane leaving military service? First of all, it was outdated. By the end of WWII, jet development was taking off. The Germans, after all, used jets like the Me-262 during the end of WWII. The F-80 shooting star was America’s first major jet fighter and saw limited service in WWII. The jet age was just beginning. Mustangs could reach over 400 mph, and they even shot down German jets, but 1st generation jets could go over 500 mph, some even 600. The P-51 fought alongside jets in the Korean War, but was used for ground attack, not its original purpose. The P-51 had a lot of capabilities, which is why it was so great. It used a Packard version of the legendary Rolls-Royce Merlin. It was equipped with 6 forward firing 50 caliber machine guns. It could reach over 400 mph. What made this plane great most of all, was its range. It could fly over 2,301 miles. It could also carry 2000 lbs of bombs for ground attack roles. It’s a shame such a great plane is almost forgotten by most people. Many people know and remember this plane, but even more people don’t. Even more people don’t know when it was made, why it was great, when and why it left service, or its capabilities and armaments. Luckily, you know that now! Hopefully this amazing piece of history and the brave men of WW2 will never be forgotten.