North American P-51 Mustang
Technical Information

Background
The P-51 was designed by North American at Britain's request, and would go onto become one of the most famous fighter aircraft of WWII. But in 1942, tests of P-51s using the British Rolls-Royce "Merlin" engine revealed much improved speed and service ceiling, and in December 1943, the Merlin-powered P-51Bs first entered combat over Europe.

Wartime History
During the Pacific War, Mustangs operated in New Guinea, Philippines, China and from Iwo Jima escorting B-29s over Japan. Also used during the Korean War.

P-51A / Mustang Mark II
A total of 310 were built at Inglewood, California. Fifty were delivered to Royal Air Force (RAF) as Mustang Mark II.

P-51B
First prodcution version equipped with the Merlin engine. A total of 1,988 built at Inglewood, California.

P-51C
A total of 1,750 built at Dallas, Texas.

P-51D
A total of 8,156 were built: 6,502 at Inglewood, California and 1,454 at Dallas, Texas.

P-51H
A total of 555 built at Inglewood, California.

P-51K
A total of 1,500 were built in Dallas, Texas.

F-6 Reconnaissance Version
Nearly 500 Mustangs were converted to perform the tactical reconnaissance role under the F-6 designation. The F-6A was the first version of the Mustang based on the P-51. The Royal AIr Force (RAF) also used a number of their Mustangs at photographic reconnaissance aircraft. F-6s carried two K-24 cameras. The F-6A, F-6B, F-6C had an oblique camera was placed in the back of the cockpit, with another vertical camera in the fuselage behind the radiator. The F-6D and F-6K, the oblique camera was in the rear fuselage, being just above the vertical camera in the fuselage behind the radiator.

CA-17 Mustang Mark 20
Commonwealth Air Corporation (CAC) had 100 Mustangs delivered disassembled as kits. Eighty were reassembled and operated by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as CA-17 Mustang Mark 20.

CA-18 Mustang Mark 21, Mark 22 and Mark 23
Licence production of 120 of the P-51D model, of which the Mark 21 and Mark 22 used the American-built Packard V-1650-3 or V-1650-7. The Mark 23 was powered by a Rolls-Royce Merlin 66 or Merlin 70 engine, a total of 170 were ordered but only 120 were built for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).

Production
Between 1941-1945, the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) ordered 14,855 Mustangs, of which 7,956 were P-51Ds. Mustangs served with the USAAF, and Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) during the Pacific War and Korean War.

Technical Details
Crew  One (pilot)
Engine  1 x Rolls-Royce "Merlin" V-1650 driving four bladed propeller
Span  37'
Length  32' 3"
Height  13' 8"
Maximum Speed  437 mph at 25,000'
Range  1,000 miles
Armament  (wings) 6 x 50 caliber machine guns with 380 rounds for the inboard and 270 rounds for the outer totalling 1,840 rounds
Bombload  (two wing hardpoints) up to 2,000 lbs bombs or 2 x drop tanks or 6 x HVAR rockets