16 April 2016

P-51 Mustang

War History Online has an article about one of Rico's favorite airplanes of World War Two:

 
 
From D-Day to the Battle of the Bulge, through reconnaissance missions and combat, fighting flying bombs and Me 262 Stormbird jets, P-51 Mustang pilots saw it all during World War Two. The book P-51 Mustang celebrates the 75th anniversary of the most iconic American warbird, written by Cory Graff, lead curator at the Flying Heritage Collection, one of the world’s most important collections and sites for warbird restoration, and published by Zenith Press.
The entire story of this plane is here, starting with the astonishing fact that the P-51 Mustang was built in less than 120 days. This first version was hardly a world-beater, and it took the addition of a Rolls-Royce-designed Merlin to make the Mustang a legend. These nimble and versatile fighters were able to escort Allied heavy bombers all the way to Berlin and back. In the Pacific, their long-range ability was pushed to its limit, with pilots flying fifteen-hundred-mile, eight-or-more-hour missions over water to attack Tokyo, Japan. On the home front, Graff profiles the impact manufacturing Mustangs had on workers in Los Angeles, California and Dallas, Texas.
The United States wasn’t finished with the P-51 Mustang after World War Two. It was used in the Korean War and, afterwards, as a symbol and icon of American ingenuity. Graff explores the post-World War Two history of this iconic plane, making this a book that every single World War Two, history, and aviation enthusiast will want to buy.
Putting proper grammar aside, they say that if an airplane looks good, it flies good, too.
Someone at NAA got the idea that rubber was being wasted as workers moved new Mustangs around in the factory and on the ramp. Could substitute wheels be used in their place? Perhaps more of a PR stunt than actual long-term consideration, the wooden wheels were briefly affixed to an RAF Mustang Mk IA. How embarrassing for the sleek new fighter! National Archives
Someone at NAA got the idea that rubber was being wasted as workers moved new Mustangs around in the factory and on the ramp. Could substitute wheels be used in their place? Perhaps more of a PR stunt than actual long-term consideration, the wooden wheels were briefly affixed to an RAF Mustang Mk IA. How embarrassing for the fighter!
Rico says he doesn't fly but, if he did, he'd love to fly one (and you can, if you're willing to pay the price, here, along with other famous planes.)

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