- 12 hours ago
For educational purposes
The P-51 Mustang rose from obscurity to become the greatest long-range fighter in aviation history.
Able to out fly even the best of the Axis aircraft, the Mustang decimated its enemies and drove them from the skies over Europe and Japan.
The P-51 Mustang rose from obscurity to become the greatest long-range fighter in aviation history.
Able to out fly even the best of the Axis aircraft, the Mustang decimated its enemies and drove them from the skies over Europe and Japan.
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LearningTranscript
00:39There are many who believe the North American P-51 Mustang is the aircraft responsible for
00:44turning the tides of World War II.
00:46I'm Paul Max Moga, and I've flown some of the most sophisticated planes ever built.
00:57I'm here at the Military Aviation Museum in Virginia Beach, Virginia, home to one of
01:01the largest private collections of restored warplanes in the world.
01:09The P-51 is my personal favorite.
01:12I've got a handful of hours in her, and I can tell you, she's an absolute dream.
01:18On this episode of Great Planes, we'll learn the incredible story of the P-51 Mustang.
01:24In its day, it was known as the most aerodynamically perfect pursuit plane in existence.
01:41The P-51 Mustang is one of the last, and perhaps the greatest, of the mass-produced piston engine
01:46fighters.
01:48It was originally designed for Britain during World War II, but because of the US Army Air
01:53Force's initial reluctance to adopt the plane, it almost became the costliest mistake made
01:58by the US in World War II.
02:01At the end of the 1930s, Germany invades Poland, bringing World War II closer to Europe.
02:12The British Royal Air Force needs to quickly increase their fighter strength.
02:19With no time to wait for a new design, they immediately approach the United States for fighting aircraft.
02:28The only fighters the Americans can offer the British are the Curtis P-40 Warhawks.
02:35The British want the P-40s, since they meet European standards and are readily available.
02:41Unfortunately, Curtis Aeroplane and Motor Company is unable to keep up with the demands of production,
02:46so the British look for another company that can build the P-40s.
02:55They are extremely impressed with North American Aviation, which is already under contract with
03:00them to build training aircraft.
03:06The company is a relative newcomer to aircraft manufacturing, having started just five years
03:11earlier.
03:12North American's approach to mass manufacturing with moving assembly lines and automation
03:17simplifies production, allowing them to produce a better product at a faster rate.
03:27They quickly become recognized as a leader in constructing aircraft.
03:36The British Air Purchasing Commission approaches North American to adopt and build the P-40s.
03:41P-40 aircraft.
03:43Although they want to comply with the request, North American is not thrilled about building
03:48a rival manufacturer's airplane.
03:52The President of North American, J. H. Kindleberger, an astute engineer and persuasive salesman,
03:58convinces the Royal Air Force that he can design and build an entirely new advanced fighter,
04:04one that will be better than the P-40.
04:06This new fighter will fly faster, higher and longer, be more maneuverable and pack more
04:12firepower.
04:14And he can have a prototype ready for them in 120 days.
04:20The British trust North American because of the excellent work they did for them on their
04:23training planes and agree to purchase this new plane.
04:27Because it's cheaper and can be delivered faster, the British order it in large numbers.
04:34North American engineers work hard to merge smooth contours with simplicity of form as
04:39quickly as they can.
04:45They use the same Allison engine that's on the P-40, a liquid-cooled engine proven to be sturdy
04:52and dependable.
04:54On October 26, 1940, North American finishes its prototype, the NA-73X.
05:03It's completed just three days before the 120-day schedule.
05:09The plane is constructed of mostly metal, aluminum and aluminum alloy.
05:14After 70,000 man-hours, the team performs a remarkable feat, and the success of the design
05:21is immediately recognized.
05:26Test pilot Vance Brees flies it for the first time.
05:29The plane reaches a speed of 382 mph at 15,000 feet, beating the P-40 by 25 mph.
05:44On December 9, 1940, the British tell North American that they have given the new aircraft
05:49the name, the Mustang.
05:55The U.S. Army Air Corps keeps two of the Mustangs for evaluation, and places orders for the plane
06:01with the new designation P-51.
06:07The plane has an excellent airframe, is fast, maneuverable, and long-ranged.
06:12The limitations placed on it by the Allison engine, make it ideal only for tactical support
06:17and reconnaissance missions.
06:27My name is Walt Elrich.
06:29I served as an aviator for 32 years.
06:35I remember hearing something about the design of the wing.
06:38It was a very unique aerodynamic, almost a breakthrough.
06:43Oh, it certainly was.
06:45They called it a laminar flow wing.
06:47Laminar flow wing.
06:48And it was very efficient.
06:50Yep.
06:51And so the combination of the engine and the wing is what really made the P-51 a standout.
07:03The Mustang's speed comes from its laminar flow wing, which shifts the thickest part of the
07:08wing back as far as possible to reduce friction, thus cutting down drag and increasing speed
07:14and range.
07:17Unfortunately, this inhibits their low speed performance, and the Allison engine does not
07:22perform well above 17,000 feet because of its lack of a supercharger.
07:33After extensive testing, the US Army Air Corps comes to the conclusion that the Mustang would
07:38not be good as a fighter, and decides to order the planes to be used as dive bombers.
07:44On April 16, 1942, they ordered 500 of these aircraft, named the A-36A Apache or A-36A Invader.
07:56Although pilots still call it the Mustang.
08:02These are the first American Mustangs to fight in the war.
08:06With the low level restriction of the Allison engine, they are fitted with cameras and also
08:10used for ground attacks.
08:14But the US Army Air Corps quickly realizes that this new P-51 Mustang has a serious flaw.
08:21One that could make it extremely vulnerable in battle.
08:31During its long service career, the P-51 served in the air forces of at least 25 countries around the
08:37world.
08:48In 1942, the US Army Air Corps uses the new P-51 Mustangs for dive bomb and tactical air support
08:55missions.
08:55Dive bombing is inherently dangerous.
08:57The typical dive profile starts from 8,000 to 10,000 feet at 90 degrees nose low, trying to keep
09:04the airspeed below 400 miles per hour.
09:10The maximum employment was about 435.
09:13Just cruising was maybe 235, something in that range.
09:17So she could get up and go.
09:18Oh yes, it did.
09:19Very efficient.
09:23But the US quickly realizes that the Mustang has a weakness.
09:27One that causes them to be more susceptible to attack.
09:30At low altitude, it is speedy and agile.
09:33But the Mustang's Allison engine loses power as the plane climbs, leaving it sluggish and unresponsive.
09:39It is relegated for use on tactical missions, supporting ground troops, photographic reconnaissance, or flying cover on a battlefield.
09:48In combat, the new Mustangs are vulnerable.
09:51One of their weakest spots is the cooling system.
09:54A single bullet through a radiator or pipe is enough to destroy a P-51.
10:08As dive bombers, the Mustangs are not successful.
10:12The moment the plane breaks its dive, it is completely exposed.
10:21If the Mustang avoids the diving attack and simply roars along at low level, its speed protects it.
10:28The Mustangs used in low level missions are powerful weapons.
10:34A squadron of Mustangs makes a very effective punch as airborne artillery.
10:40The Mustangs are sponsored by Jimmy Deews, every one person in the V now-to-Z.
11:06The Definite Volumek
11:07From the A- GEORGE Danielс
11:081,083 of the Allison-powered Mustangs are built, all for low-level roles.
11:14They are capable of carrying a 500-pound bomb under each wing,
11:18and a variety of machine guns mounted in the center of each wing.
11:22The wing is so thin that guns can't be positioned upright
11:25and have to be placed so that they almost rest on their sides.
11:29This arrangement leads to difficulties in loading and unloading the guns.
11:33They also have two .50 caliber machine guns in the nose,
11:36positioned under the engine in a staggered fashion.
11:40The machine guns are very accurate when attacking ground targets,
11:44and their low-level performance makes them excellent at skip-bombing,
11:48dropping the bomb short of the target so that it bounces into position to explode.
12:00Because of their shortcomings, the early Allison-equipped Mustangs are often overlooked,
12:04but their work is a pivotal part in the pursuit of victory.
12:12A few years into the war, the United States Army Air Corps organizes allied air operations in Burma.
12:23Burma lies between China and India, and is surrounded on three sides by high mountains.
12:32As the Allies fight their way across this rugged terrain,
12:35the lack of any roads or railways forces the troops on the ground
12:39to become almost totally reliant on air support for supplies and artillery.
12:57The situation on the ground is much more treacherous during the monsoons.
13:01The flooding rivers cause an enormous loss of supplies.
13:04During the wet season, both sides grind to a halt in the mud,
13:08in conditions so horrible that even the legendary C-47s are incapable of making it through.
13:19To fly planes in this environment requires daring, determination, skill, and lots of luck.
13:29In their attack role, the Mustangs come through.
13:32With forward air control direction, the pilots are able to deliver accurate tactical support,
13:37and clear obstacles ahead of the troops.
13:40Their constant harassment keeps the enemy unbalanced.
13:46The Allison Engine Mustangs are regarded by their pilots with great affection,
13:49as long as they are used within their limitations.
13:52They are also a pleasure to fly, responsive, and very controllable.
14:01These Mustangs' designated A-36As fly over 23,000 combat missions, claiming 84 enemy aircraft.
14:14With the obvious capabilities of the Mustang,
14:17it is finally suggested that this highly effective plane should be given a better engine.
14:22The British recommend the Rolls-Royce Merlin, the same engine as the illustrious Spitfire.
14:32In October 1942, the American engine manufacturer Packard comes to an agreement with Rolls-Royce
14:39to build the 1,300 horsepower Merlin 61 engine with its two-speed, two-stage supercharger.
14:48Like the Allison, the Merlin is a 12-cylinder liquid-cooled engine, but has a better power-to-weight ratio.
15:00After successful trial installations by Rolls-Royce, North American's engineers go to work.
15:08The Mustang undergoes some changes in housing this new engine, giving the plane overall better lines.
15:21The propeller now has four broad blades instead of three, which turns power into thrust in the thin air of
15:27higher altitudes.
15:31The carburetor inlet above the engine is repositioned below the propeller.
15:36The fuselage is strengthened, and there are refinements to the radiator and its ducting.
15:44The .30-caliber guns are replaced with four .50-caliber Browning machine guns.
15:51The new plane is a substantial advancement to the earlier models.
16:03When they adapted the Rolls-Royce Merlin to the P-51, that made it a fantastic fighter.
16:11They realized that with the airframe they had, if they could marry it to the Rolls-Royce Merlin, they really
16:17had a winner.
16:17So they had the right airframe, and once they found the right engine, you know, what did that really allow
16:22the Mustang to do performance-wise, and why was that important in World War II?
16:27Well, I'll tell you, that extra altitude enabled them to escort the B-17 bombers all the way across Europe.
16:40In November 1942, the new P-51B Mustang is tested and flies 50 miles per hour faster at a remarkable
16:4830,000 feet.
16:53At altitude, it can now outperform anything in the sky.
16:57Its top speed is 440 miles per hour, with an increased rate of climb and power reserve.
17:05The Mustang has become the ultimate fighter, as it was originally intended, and is ready to re-enter the war.
17:26Rolls-Royce's senior test liaison, Ronald Harker, lobbied to fit the P-51 with the Merlin engine.
17:32In 1997, 56 years after the P-51 first entered service with the RAF, Ronald Harker took his final flight
17:40in a Mustang at the age of 88.
17:55The coupling of the American Mustang Airframe and the British Rolls-Royce Merlin engine creates a piston aircraft unmatched by
18:03any other.
18:04The United States Army Air Corps orders 2,200 of these new powerful fighters, and is eager to enlist them
18:10into the war.
18:18Testing of the new planes is quickly completed, and in 1943, Mustangs are pouring onto the battlefield in massive numbers.
18:29The planes are produced at two major plants.
18:33Those from Englewood, California, are P-51Bs, and the identical products from the Dallas, Texas plant become P-51Cs.
18:57The first combat group supplied with the Merlin-powered P-51 is the 354th Fighter Group out of England.
19:05But they soon realized this little plane is not being used to its full potential.
19:13With a 425-gallon tank, the Mustangs have always had a large fuel capacity, and they only consume half the
19:21fuel of other planes.
19:23This gives them a huge advantage in range, capable of flying 1,080 miles.
19:30With additional drop tanks added to the wings, they can fly 2,600 miles.
19:37They are the obvious choice to escort the massive daylight bombing raids against Germany.
19:48The 8th Air Force is crying out for a plane with the Mustang's capability.
19:55Their bombers are taking very heavy losses from Luftwaffe pilots.
20:02They need an escort fighter that can stay with them deep into occupied territory, and get them home as well.
20:09The North American P-51 Mustang is the immediate choice.
20:14The Mustangs find their element, and with the additional wing-mounted fuel tanks, they roam the skies over Europe.
20:21They not only support the bombers, but also take the battle to the Luftwaffe.
20:26The Mustang's speed and maneuverability allows them to fly low and bomb targets that are too small for the high
20:33-altitude bombers.
20:34Their destruction of German aircraft and fuel factories causes a massive decline in the production of new fighters.
20:51Due to these raids, fewer enemy planes are even able to take off, because of a severe shortage of parts
20:57and fuel.
21:01As escorts, they are the first effective shield, and with their protection, the Luftwaffe is now on the defensive, and
21:07less of a threat to the bombers.
21:13As the Mustangs multiply, it is clear that there is simply no better bomber escort anywhere.
21:18Their availability only increases allied dominance of the air over Europe.
21:25The Luftwaffe's pilots are unprepared for this incredible new fighter plane.
21:30For the Mustang pilots, there is comforting knowing they are flying the best-performance fighter.
21:47The bomber crews, who previously flew into the teeth of German defenses alone, feel a sense of security now that
21:54they have the Mustang protecting them.
22:01The impact of the Mustangs on Germany is reflected in a comment by Hermann Goering, commander-in-chief of the
22:08German Air Force.
22:09When he looked into the skies over Berlin and saw Mustangs shepherding allied bombers, he knew that Germany had lost
22:16the war.
22:25The Mustang's range and power quickly establishes air superiority against the outdated enemy planes.
22:33Their arrival on every front makes a tremendous difference, and the effect of this amazing fighter is felt throughout the
22:39war.
22:41One of the few criticisms the Royal Air Force makes of the P-51B Mustang is a complaint about the
22:47canopy.
22:48It doesn't allow the pilot to look behind him, and a tall pilot is cramped against the top of the
22:53canopy.
22:55Robert Malcolm, squadron leader in the Royal Air Force, is solicited to come up with a solution to this problem.
23:04Other than poor visibility, the only other shortcoming of the B and C model Mustangs is its armament.
23:10Pilots report the guns jam during high-G maneuvers.
23:13Plus, the planes only have four .50 caliber Brownings, and the pilots want more firepower.
23:25Based on the Royal Air Force's recommendation, Robert Malcolm designs a new canopy for the Mustang.
23:33The visibility looks great. Nice bubble canopy you can see in all directions.
23:37That's right, that's right.
23:37Forward, left, right, behind you if somebody's lucky enough to get there and be ready to go.
23:42Bubble canopy was a real lifesaver.
23:48The Malcolm hood, a single-piece canopy that slides on runners, is a perfect addition to the already existing shape
23:55of just about any plane.
23:58While redesigning and testing this new canopy, North American Aviation focuses on making additional improvements to the Mustang that enhance
24:06its fighting capabilities.
24:21On November 6, 1944, fighter ace and aviation legend Chuck Yeager was the first to shoot down a jet-powered
24:28German Me 262 with his Mustang Glamorous Glenn, named after his wife.
24:45Wanting a more lasting solution to the canopy problem on the P-51 B and C model Mustangs,
24:50North American Aviation modifies it with a teardrop-shaped canopy.
24:54Pilots of the new P-51 Mustang now have greater visibility from the cockpit,
24:58as the teardrop canopy gives them an unobstructed 360-degree view.
25:14This new canopy not only fits older versions of the Mustang, but just about any other plane as well.
25:34North American's Los Angeles factory in Inglewood is extremely vulnerable to Japanese bombing,
25:39so it is cloaked with extensive camouflage, which disguises the buildings and covers the outdoor run-up lines.
25:50Under these nets, the Mustangs are rolled out, tuned and tested.
25:56Inglewood produces the next Mustang model, the D, with its new teardrop canopy and other refinements.
26:05The airplane has two 92-gallon fuel tanks in the wings, but in its military role it also had an
26:1485-gallon tank in the fuselage behind the pilot.
26:19This particular weight and balance system was a little bit touchy as far as balance goes for the airplane.
26:27So they had to be very careful that they burn down that rear tank first.
26:36The cut down back from the new canopy leads to a loss of surface area on the spine of the
26:40plane.
26:41This causes directional stability problems, so they add a dorsal fin for enhanced control.
26:51The wings are redesigned to fit three .50 caliber brownings in each, which brings the total to six.
26:57And the repositioning eliminates previous jamming problems.
27:00The inner gun carries 400 rounds, and the two outer guns have 280 rounds each, giving the fighter a devastating
27:07punch.
27:21The P51D, with the new canopy, dorsal fin, and six guns, represents the most typical Mustang.
27:29It has a 37-foot wingspan, and is 32 feet 3 inches long, with a height of just over 8
27:36feet.
27:38The P51D is complete, both offensively and defensively, and has become the most dominant aircraft in the war.
27:48North American Aviation, with its excellent organization and speed, delivers close to 8,000 D-model Mustangs in 1944 alone.
27:59Once completed, the planes are towed to the run-up lines for dispatch to the war.
28:12The heavy bombing in Europe continues, and the P51Ds swarm in large numbers.
28:19They are the critical edge supporting the Allies' drive for air supremacy.
28:30The Luftwaffe continues to throw its resources against the onslaught, while they lose their cities, aviation plants, fuel, and transportation
28:39systems.
28:42The Nazis have no choice, and press their defense to the limit, but it costs them dearly in pilots and
28:49planes.
28:57The Mustangs still have their punch as ground attack aircraft, and since they're already deep over enemy territory escorting the
29:04bombers,
29:04it's easy for them to attack transports and Luftwaffe targets as they make their way back to base.
29:26On March 4th, 1944, for the very first time, Mustangs support the bombers on the 1,100 mile round trip
29:33to Berlin.
29:37This long-range capability of the Mustang is used routinely in deep-strike missions.
29:45In their activity during the war, the Mustangs fly over 213,000 missions, with close to 5,000 German planes
29:53claimed as shot down, and an estimated 4,000 destroyed on the ground.
30:00The aerial victories account for almost half the total claimed by all American units during the war after the arrival
30:05of the P-51.
30:12For the United States, there are just over 2,500 Mustangs lost, due to being shot down, mechanical failure, or
30:20because of pilot error.
30:24In this footage, a pilot's mistake shows the horrific result of two Mustangs colliding during a ground sweep and plowing
30:30into the ground.
30:38The Mustang outperforms all the piston-engine fighters the Luftwaffe is able to deploy.
30:42It maintains its supremacy in the air until the emergence of the German jet and rocket fighters.
30:55In a war of attrition, the Germans are running out of fuel, aircraft, and experienced pilots.
31:01As a last effort, they unleash their new jet fighters, like the Messerschmitt Me 262.
31:06While the Me 262 is faster than the Mustang in high-altitude combat, the Mustang can outmaneuver and outlast the
31:14Messerschmitt, which has limited endurance.
31:24The P-51s ambush the jets at landing and takeoff, and overwhelm them in huge numbers in the dogfights around
31:31the bombers.
31:39The Mustangs are no match for the jets in speed, flying 100 miles per hour slower.
31:49Fortunately for the Allies, the Nazis deployed their jets too late and in too small numbers.
32:07Even faster is the Me 163 Comet rocket plane, popularly known as the Devil's Sled, which can reach nearly 600
32:19miles per hour.
32:21The rockets take off before they are fully developed, and are extremely dangerous to fly.
32:27They carry only a limited amount of fuel, and spend a large part of each flight unpowered, gliding back to
32:33base.
32:37At its highest speed, it is immune to attacks from the Mustangs.
32:41But its extremely limited range makes it ineffective against the long-range bombers.
32:50Pilots take off on a jettisonable undercarriage trolley, and then land without power on the plane's belly.
32:56The rockets are extremely perilous, and pay a high price for their speed.
33:00As it is gliding back to land, the 163 is vulnerable to attack and unable to defend itself.
33:13When the war reaches Japan, the Mustangs are the first choice to cover the bombers.
33:22The Japanese Air Force is already destroyed in Asia and the Pacific.
33:27Their pilots are wiped out, and their designs are outdated, but still in production.
33:34They are no match for the newer and more powerful American planes.
33:39The Japanese quickly lose their dominance in the air.
34:10As public appreciation for the Mustang has grown, their value has skyrocketed.
34:14After their wartime service, surplus P-51 Mustangs were auctioned from storage for less than $2,000.
34:21They are now valued at three quarters of a million dollars or more.
34:38As the war reaches Japan, the United States captures the island of Iwo Jima after a ferocious five-week battle.
35:18Within weeks of landing on Iwo Jima, airstrips are prepared for the strategic bombing campaign against the Japanese homeland.
35:25On April 7, 1945, six squadrons of P-51s head to Nakajima, near Tokyo, to escort B-29s on their
35:34first bombing mission of Japan.
35:38The Japanese lose 21 aircraft trying to attack the formation, and destroy only two Mustangs.
35:45The Japanese fail to shoot down any B-29s.
35:49Fighter-protected bombing raids are unstoppable, and the bomber pilots love the Mustangs, calling them little friends.
36:24Another Mustang group is deployed in late April, and by June they have flown 832 missions.
36:37Stripped of cover, Japan is open to attack. The Japanese population is engulfed in a sense of terror from the
36:43air.
36:54For the Japanese airmen, simply taking off becomes an act of bravery.
36:59In combat, they are forced to fight advanced pilots, flying far superior aircraft, in greater numbers, with better weapons.
37:08Their planes are swatted from the sky.
37:13On the ground, they are hammered by Mustangs that torment them from treetop height.
37:21The Japanese air force cannot defend itself, let alone Japan.
37:28The last months of the war are a testimony to the stubbornness and pride of the Japanese government.
37:55Finally, with the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the Japanese collapse.
38:02On August 14th, Hirohito, the Emperor of Japan, surrenders, and the P-51s fly their last mission.
38:14With the success of the Mustang, and other designs like the B-25 Mitchell,
38:19North American Aviation produces more planes during World War II than any other American manufacturer.
38:24Over 15,000 P-51 Mustangs, all types, are built from 1940 to 1945.
38:35After the war, the Mustangs stay in active service, and are also used by the Air National Guard.
38:47The Mustangs are not like most of their fighter contemporaries from the war, fading from use.
38:59The newly reorganized United States Air Force keeps the Mustangs, while jets are developed and manufactured in large numbers.
39:12There are even several post-war versions of the Mustang.
39:16The F-82 twin Mustang, with two Allison engines, was used mainly as a night fighter.
39:23On June 25th, 1950, the North Korean Army crosses the border into South Korea, and the Mustangs are in action
39:30again.
39:31A number of Mustangs, now called F-51s, are put back into active service.
39:37And in the first year of the war, they fly more combat missions than any other Air Force plane.
39:47Despite heavy losses, they are still used.
39:50They are the only aircraft available in large numbers, with long-range capability, and can carry enough weapons to do
39:56some major damage.
40:01Usually loaded with bombs and rockets, they fly over dangerous mountain terrain, which leaves them little chance of a successful
40:08forced landing.
40:10And, their liquid-cooled engines are exposed to ground fire again.
40:16The Mustang, outdated and flying in a mission that makes them vulnerable, is still a weapon of great destructive power.
40:25In the early phases of the war, it is the ferocity of the Mustang fighter bombers that buys time for
40:30the 8th Army to dig in around Pusan, and halt the rush of the North Korean Army.
40:37But, against the MiG-15, the Mustang is more of a target than an opponent.
40:42It's days as the world's premier fighter are behind it.
40:54Back with the National Guard, the United States uses them into the mid-50s, and a few are used as
41:00chase planes for another 20 years.
41:05The P-51s are used all over the world.
41:08They form the backbone of the Infant Israeli Air Force, and fly in combat in large numbers for the last
41:15time in the 1956 desert war.
41:25They stay front-line planes for the Dominican Republic and Indonesia into the 70s.
41:34They are also the planes of choice for many civil pilots, for aerobatics, racing, or simply for pleasure.
41:43Their power, coupled with their dependable airframe, gives them a uniqueness that is unmatched.
41:52The P-51 Mustang is highly regarded as the best American combat and performance fighter ever designed.
42:05The pilots liked it. It was a pilot's plane, and everything in the cockpit was well organized, and you just
42:13felt at home.
42:14Oh, she's a dream.
42:15Oh, it is a dream airplane.
42:20The Mustangs that are still flying are maintained with such fanaticism that they will probably be with us for decades
42:27to come.
42:28On the other hand, go ahead.
42:53The P-51 Mustang is one of aviation history's elite aircraft.
42:57During World War II in Europe, it had a kill ratio of 11 to 1, making it one of the
43:03highest
43:03scoring fighters of the war.
43:09Over its long and distinguished service career, the Mustangs are used as trainers, transports,
43:15ground attackers, interceptors, and bomber escorts.
43:18After the war, they've become excellent racers.
43:21The versatility and high performance of this remarkable airframe makes it one of the world's
43:26legendary aircraft.
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