This detailed monograph covers the design and development of the P-51D Mustang family, the main wartime production variant of this classic fighter. The P-51D model introduced the definitive ‘bubble’ canopy and heavier armament, and was the mount of many aces. After W.W.II the Mustang saw action again in Korea, and also served with many other air forces around the world. 'North American P-51D Mustang' contains comprehensive technical details of the American built P-51D, P-51K and the Australian CAC Mustangs. Numerous specially selected original NAA technical photographs Production and service photos A wide range of color profiles from 29 nations Rare color photographs from WWII.

An illustrated history of the renowned fighter aircraft, ideal for modelers and aviation enthusiasts: “Highly recommended.” —AMPS Indianapolis The North American P-51 Mustang was one of the most successful and effective fighter aircraft of all time. It was initially produced in response to a 1940 RAF requirement for a fast, heavily armed fighter able to operate effectively at altitudes in excess of 20,000 feet. North American built the prototype in 117 days, and the aircraft, designated NA-73X, flew on October 26, 1940. The first of 320 production Mustang Is for the RAF flew on May 1, 1941, powered by an 1,100hp Allison V-1710-39 engine. RAF test pilots soon found that with this powerplant the aircraft did not perform well at high altitude, but that its low-level performance was excellent. It was when the Mustang airframe was married to a Packard-built Rolls-Royce Merlin engine that the aircraft’s true excellence became apparent. Possessing a greater combat radius than any other Allied single-engine fighter, it became synonymous with the Allied victory in the air. During the last eighteen months of the war in Europe, escorting bomber formations, it hounded the Luftwaffe to destruction in the very heart of Germany. In the Pacific, operating from advance bases, it ranged over the Japanese Home Islands, joining carrier-borne fighters such as the Grumman Hellcat to bring the Allies massive air superiority. Yet the Mustang came about almost by accident, a product of the Royal Air Force’s urgent need for new combat aircraft in the dark days of 1940, when Britain, fighting for survival, turned to the United States for help in the island nation’s darkest hour. This is its story, including plentiful photos and information for modelers.

Aircraft described as flying wing have aroused interest of the designers since the early, pioneer years of aviation. This definition is used to describe aircraft with specific design solutions, allowing for resignation from conventional vertical and horizontal empennage and primarily from conventional fuselage. Virtually the whole airframe comprises only the wing, housing both the cockpit and powerplant. A sugroup of flying wings are tailless aircraft, differing from the traditional designs only in lack of horizontal empennage. 18

The North American P-51 Mustang holds an important place in US aviation history as its finest fighter aircraft of all time. During the Second World War it was the only Allied fighter capable of flying to Berlin and back from Britain without refueling. Read about the Mustang's illustrious combat history and take a close-up look at how it is constructed. Discover what it takes to own and fly this classic fighter, and find out how engineers keep it airworthy. Centrepieces of this manual are co-author Maurice Hammond's Second World War-vintage Merlin-engine P-51Ds - Janie and Marinell.

During World War II, the United States Army Air Corps was led by a cadre of officers who believed implicitly that military aviation, particularly fast heavy bombers at high altitude, would be able to destroy strategic enemy targets during daylight with minimal losses. However, by 1942 the Flying Fortress was proving vulnerable to Luftwaffe fighters. This title charts the United States Army Air Force's struggle to develop a Long-Range Escort which would enable them to achieve the Combined Bomber Objectives and gain mastery of the skies over the Third Reich. The commitment of the USAAF to the Mediterranean and European theatres saw an increasingly desperate need to find a fighter escort, which reached crisis point in 1943 as losses suffered in the Tidal Wave offensive and Schweinfurt-Regensburg-Munster raids emphasised the mounting strength of the Luftwaffe. The USAAF leaders increasingly accepted the probability of bomber losses, and the deployment of the P-51B Mustang solved the problem of Germany's layered defence strategy, as Luftwaffe fighters had been avoiding the P-47 Thunderbolt and P-38 Lightening escort fighters by concentrating their attacks beyond the range of the Thunderbolt and Lightning. The P-51B duly emerged as the 'The Bastard Stepchild' that the USAAF Material Division did not want, becoming the key Long-Range Escort fighter, alongside the P-38 and P-47, that defeated the Luftwaffe prior to D-Day. As well as the P-51B's history, this title explores the technical improvements made to each of these fighters, as well as the operational leadership and technical development of the Luftwaffe they fought against.

The P-51 Mustang holds a fascination unlike any other World War II aircraft, and countless books have been written about nearly every aspect of the Mustang's colorful history. However, the story of manufacturing the airplane itself is usually contained only in the opening chapters of these books. Now, for the first time, here is a major work devoted strictly to telling the story of how this legendary airplane was designed and built using rare original factory photographs, documents, and unique engineering information. The author uses 397 original photos culled from his personal archive of official North American and USAAF images, many of which have never before been seen in any publication whatsoever. This paperback book will provide a vital "missing link" in the saga of this famed World War II aircraft, and is sure to become a valued addition to the libraries of P-51 modelers, historians, enthusiasts, and pilots in both the United States and England.

Third edition, revised and extended of the MMPBooks' bestseller on P-51D.The development of the most the most famous American WWII fighter is described and illustrated. This book includes redrawn color profiles and scale drawings of the all P-51D/K and F-6D/K subversions including Swedish, Dutch and Australian reconnaissance versions. American special versions like VLR and Navy are also included. There is a separate chapter on reconnaissance F-6D/K written by Robert Bourlier.For the first time, all differences between P-51D variants are shown. Also, information about every foreign user is included with photos and color profiles. Apart from scale plans and color profiles, there are many period photos and drawings from technical manuals.

"P-51 Mustang combat missions brings to life what it was like to fly - and take into battle - one of the defining fighter aircraft of World War II. The tactics, violence, and tension of U.S. fighter missions in the European Theater of Operations (ETO) are revealed in exceptional drams and detail. More than seventy first-person accounts from P-51 Mustang pilots, including renowned aces. Detailed accounts of every type of P-51 operation, from bomber escorts over the Reich to hedge-skimming strafing runs over German airfields in occupied France. Authoritative explanations of the P-51's historical development and technical characteristics. More than 300 high-quality archive and memorabilia photos." -- p.4 of cover.

The Mustang is considered the best fighter of World War II. The outstanding flight characteristics of this elegant aircraft were due to the adoption of a wing profile laminar (particularly designed for high speeds) and other measures which concerned the radiator and the careful study of the various components for quick construction on an industrial scale. Capable of reaching high altitudes, was also used in the escort bombers. In addition to the United States was exported to many foreign countries that have employed, in some cases, until the '70s. Entered service with the A.M. in 1948, replacing the now exhausted Spitfire line hunting. Although the first models, equipped with Allison engine cylinders in line, they were, good low-altitude aircraft, it was only with the adoption of the Rolls-Royce Merlin engine, mounted on later models, the Mustang was able to give the best of himself. The essential simplicity of the design, coupled with a pleasant look and aerodynamic, constituted a great potential for development and the consequence was that the Mustang excelled in two fields: powerful fighter bomber operating at low altitude and high altitude escort fighter with long range . In the first as the Mustang was able to develop a formidable firepower, including the firing of rockets and bombs; in the second role, thanks to extra tanks that were dropped when empty, was the first Allied fighter escort to make raid down over Berlin and Tokyo. In every respect the Mustang was a big plane, much loved by the pilots and crews of the escorting bombers and greatly feared by the Japanese and German pilots. With the engine Merlin Mustang had phenomenal qualities of speed both up and acceleration. All this, combined with excellent maneuverability, made him a fighter truly superlative performance.

The North American P-51 Mustang was one of the most successful and effective fighter aircraft of all time. It was initially produced in response to a 1940 RAF requirement for a fast, heavily-armed fighter able to operate effectively at altitudes in excess of 20,000ft. North America built the prototype in 117 days, and the aircraft, designated NA-73X, flew on 26 October 1940. The first of 320 production Mustang Is for the RAF flew on 1 May 1941, powered by a 1,100hp Allison V-1710-39 engine. RAF test pilots soon found that with this powerplant the aircraft did not perform well at high altitude, but that its low-level performance was excellent. It was when the Mustang airframe was married to a Packard-built Rolls-Royce Merlin engine that the aircraft’s true excellence became apparent. Possessing a greater combat radius than any other Allied single-engine fighter, it became synonymous with the Allied victory in the air. During the last eighteen months of the war in Europe, escorting bomber formations, it hounded the Luftwaffe to destruction in the very heart of Germany. In the Pacific, operating from advance bases, it ranged over the Japanese Home Islands, joining carrier-borne fighters such as the Grumman Hellcat to bring the Allies massive air superiority. Yet the Mustang came about almost by accident, a product of the Royal Air Force’s urgent need for new combat aircraft in the dark days of 1940, when Britain, fighting for survival, turned to the United States for help in the island nation’s darkest hour.