IPMS Nederland - Walk around - North American P-51 Mustang (>6x)

: Laatste update: 12 maart 2020; 20663

The North American P-51 was one of the best fighter aircraft of the Second World War. It was designed as long-range, single-seat fighter to escort Allied bombers all the way to bombing Berlin. It was also used as fighter-bomber. The prototype NA-73X airframe was first flown October 1940. (The A-36 Apache was an early P-51 version used as dive bomber). The first P-51 versions used the Allison V-1710 engine. It got a smooth wing to enable "laminar flow" for longer range but that only worked when the wing was cleaned up. The type was also first flown operationally by the Royal Air Force (RAF) early in the war in Europe after the type was obtained after considerable effort as the USA was not yet involved in the war. The RAF called it the Mustang and deployed it as a tactical-reconnaissance aircraft and fighter-bomber. This early version was however no real match for the high speed German fighters in Western Europe.

The definitive P-51 version was a far better aircraft as it got a Packard V-1650-7 engine, a licence-built version of the Rolls-Royce Merlin 60 series two-stage two-speed supercharged engine, and armed with six .50 caliber (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine guns. This excellent P-51D was widely used and was a fine aircraft. After the Second World War, the Mustang was used in various theatres like Korea and Indo China. It was also used by many air forces around the World, after the War with surplus aircraft obtained. That included the Netherlands Air Force ML-KNIL in the Dutch Indies.

Over 15,000 P-51's were manufactured. Mustangs are still used by many enthusiasts, flying them all over the World. Some are modified for air racing with even bigger high performance engines.

HERE IN VARIOUS GALLERIES WITH OVER 1,000 PHOTO'S

P-51C Mustang

This particular variant, the P-51C, has the old style cockpit hood.

This aircraft is "Ina the Macon Belle", P-51C-10NT, serial 42-103831, USA registration civil N1204

Photographed Januari 2012 by Cees Hendriks (c) Copyright IPMS Nederland

P-51D Mustang

The P-51D got a later style bibble type canopy hood for better visibility as well as a more powerfull Packard Merlin engine.

Several aircraft are seen here, like:

(1) "Little Witch", P-51D-30NA being a TF-51 restoration, serial 44-74497, USA registration N51LW

(2) "Crazy Horse", P-51D-25NT, a TF-51 with serial 44-84745, registration N851D by Stallion 51

(3) "Mad Max", P-51D-30NT being a Cavalier Mk.II, serial 45-11559a, registration N51MX

(4) "Slender tender tall", A68-175, serial 44-74950a, registration N51DT

Most planes are located at Kissimmee airfield in Florida, USA. Note that many were modified for civil flying, including installing an extra seat in the cockpit.

Photographed Januari 2012 by Cees Hendriks (c) Copyright IPMS Nederland

-- part 1:

-- part 2:

-- part 3: the ammunition bay details of a P-51D nicknamed "Slender, tender & small" as seen at Kissimmee, Florida, USA.

Photographed 2015 by Cees Hendriks (c) Copyright IPMS Nederland

P-51 "Precious Metal"

This particular Mustang was converted to a racer with nickname "PRECIOUS METAL" with USA registration N5483V. It is the world's only Rolls Royce Griffon powered P-51 Mustang and is made of parts of various P-51's. This aircraft appeared at many air show races. It's home base is Kissimmee.

Photographed Januari 2012 by Cees Hendriks (c) Copyright IPMS Nederland

Later, the same aircraft was repainted with yellow markings as well and seen at Titusville. Unfortunately is was damaged by fire and is now under repair.

Photographed 2014 by Cees Hendriks (c) Copyright IPMS Nederland

P-51 VARIA

Several P-51 aircraft were seen at an air show in the USA.

Photographed 2014 by Cees Hendriks (c) Copyright IPMS Nederland

P-51 Packard Allison engine

Here the installment and nose section of a P-51D is seen with the Packard (Allison) V-1650 engine, a licence-built version of the Rolls-Royce Merlin. Seen at Chino.

Photographed 2015 by Cees Hendriks (c) Copyright IPMS Nederland

P-51D "Damn Yankee"

This P-51D-30-NA 44-74425 was delivered to the USAAF in 1945, but she served also after the war with Royal Canadian Air Force. It went into private ownership in 1957 and was flown by several owners also in the USA. It had some landing accidents but the airplane was always repaired as needed. In 1994 it went into a Dutch pilot ownership with Dutch civil registration "PH-PSI". The name "Damn Yankee" is a fictional name. It has not only a pilot seat but provision for a small passenger seat below a larger canopy hood. (it is based at Oostwold, a small airstrip in Groningen, The Netherlands).

Photos 2014 via Hans Oostendorp (c) Copyright IPMS Nederland.

P-51A-10-NA

This P-51A Mustang "Mrs. Virginia" (S/N 43-6251) is the only authentic flying example of it's type in the world. It has Allison V-1710-81 engine of about 1,200 hp. It is owned by the Planes of Fame Air Museum at Chino, CA.

P-51A

This P-51A-10-NA was originally manufactured in 1943. Many years later, it also flew as a racer. This aircraft was restored to P-51A and "N90358" is now on static display at the Yanks Air Museum at Chino, California USA.

P-51D "Spam Can Dolly"

This P-51D Mustang coded 472861 - 607 (Civilian registration N5441V) has the nickname 'Spam Can Dolly'. It was seen at the Chino.

P-51D

This P-51D-NA is Dutch civilian registred as "PH-JAT" owned by "Wings over Holland/Stichting Vroege Vogels". It was a former Reno racer converted back to look as a P-51D. Seen at Texel Airport (NL).

Mustang racer

This P-51 is a heavily modified aircraft as racer. Registered N551VC as "Voodoo", it brook the world record as fastest piston powered aircraft in 2017 reaching 531.53 mph. Seen at Chino, Ca.

Many scale models exist of the P-51 Mustang in various scales. Too much to list! Recently Airfix issued a very nice P-51D in 1/72 and Tamiya has a very good P-51D in 1/32.

Also the Dutch armed forces used the P-51. Enthusiasts, modellers and historians may look at more info at our NedMil pages here....

This walk around page was first published March 2012 by M. de Vreeze