26.08.2008, 18:06
Howdy, here's my two cents worth.
I've been a P-51 fanatic for over 30 years and I think the FM is OK (the aft CG effect is a bit exaggerated, but I can deal with it with a little practice.) The only problem I have is that the P-51B/C FM is slower than the P-51D. This is simply incorrect. The B/C model was actually slightly faster, primarily because it had a thinner wing. No B.S., I've talked to pilots that have flown them both and they are unanimous that the B/C model is faster. They say that you typically need a couple of inches less manifold pressure to hold formation on a D model.
The reason the D model had a thicker wing was so the gun jamming problems present on the B/C model could be fixed. The guns in the B/C model were set at a 45 degree angle and the gun feed chutes had such a sharp turn in them that the ammo would get hung up and jam the gun if you were firing while pulling more than a couple of Gs. In the D model they set the guns upright and this took care of the problem, however it necessitated a thicker wing. (It
I've been a P-51 fanatic for over 30 years and I think the FM is OK (the aft CG effect is a bit exaggerated, but I can deal with it with a little practice.) The only problem I have is that the P-51B/C FM is slower than the P-51D. This is simply incorrect. The B/C model was actually slightly faster, primarily because it had a thinner wing. No B.S., I've talked to pilots that have flown them both and they are unanimous that the B/C model is faster. They say that you typically need a couple of inches less manifold pressure to hold formation on a D model.
The reason the D model had a thicker wing was so the gun jamming problems present on the B/C model could be fixed. The guns in the B/C model were set at a 45 degree angle and the gun feed chutes had such a sharp turn in them that the ammo would get hung up and jam the gun if you were firing while pulling more than a couple of Gs. In the D model they set the guns upright and this took care of the problem, however it necessitated a thicker wing. (It