3dlabprint p-51 print time
The P-51 was designed and built in the USA but not because of any US contract or requirement. In all, at least 25 different countries operated the The Mustang flew and fought in Korea during the early 50'sĪnd in many other smaller conflicts. It served during peace and during hostilities - to stop the Nazis during WWII and in the famed The P-51 served in many different air forces around the world. On 9 December 1940 the British Purchasing Comission sent a letter to North American Aviation stating that the NA-73 airplanes have been given the official designation of "Mustang". 18 days later, the Allison V-1710-39 was ready and on 26 October 1940, NX19998 took to the skies for its maiden flight with test pilot Vance Breese at the controls. Kindelberger put Edgar Schmued in charge of the new P-51 prototype design, NA-73X.Īfter 78,000 man hours and 102 days later, the prototype, NA-73X, rolled out of the hangar - without an engine. The new fighter would fly faster, higher, farther, be more maneuverable and pack more firepower. Then Kindelberger somehow, with no real evidence that it could be done, convinced the Sir Henry Self of the British Purchasing Commission, that North American Aviation could design and build a new fighter that was better than the P-40. Kindelberger told the British that it would take 120 days to tool up for the P-40.
#3dlabprint p 51 print time full#
"Dutch" Kindelberger, president of North American Aviation, was approached by the British to build the P-40 at the North American production facility because Curtiss Aircraft was at full capacity. Neither were their first choice, but that was the best that the Americans had and the British could not wait for any new designs. They showed interest in the Curtiss P-40 Warhark and the Bell P-39 Aircobra among others. It all started in 1939, when the British needed more fighter aircraft. An 87 gallon fuselage fuel tank behind the pilot was added to some of the B/C models and all of the D/K models to fulfill this directive. The P-51 already had the longest range of any Allied fighter. The USAAF sent a directive to NAA to provide maximum range to the P-51B for fighter escort at the earliest possible date. General Hap Arnold was instrumental in pushing the P-51 into the escort fighter role. In 1941, the USAAF was not too interested in the P-51, taking their time with the XP-51 trials, but now they are very interested. Part of the US approval in 1940 for export to Britain was that 2 examples of the Mustang would be turned over to the USAAF for evaluation at no cost. By the time heavy bomber losses were at hand, the P-51B and P-51C, with outstanding range, were already in production and being delivered to bases in England. It is often accepted that the P-51 Mustang was designed to be an escort fighter, but as you look at the timeline, it is more plausible that the Mustang, as a fighter aircraft, fit that need better than any other fighter available. It should be noted that the concept of the P-51 Mustang began more than three years before the first daylight bombing missions and the heavy losses. Strategic day-time bombing was crippling both sides. The B-17, although designed to defend itself, could not. At that loss rate, the practice of daytime bombing raids was in question. Many did not get out and if they did get out and get their chute to deploy, evading capture and returning to England was very difficult. After that, the Luftwaffe, laid in wait.ġ4th October of 1943, another 60 were lost in a single day, "Black Thursday". Even with drop tanks, the range of these fighters would barely reach to the Germany border. Early escort included the RAF Spitfire and the USAAF P-47 Thunderbolt. On 17 August 1943, 60 out of 376 American bombers were lost!Īlmost all the losses coming beyond the range of the bomber escort.
The 1st daylight bombing mission by a US unit was on 4th July, 1942. This included the practice of daylight bombing raids on German targets. WWII: It was decided by Allied commanders that a full time strategic bombing campaign wouldĬripple the enemy over time and allow ground troops the advantage they needed to first stop the advancing German Army and then push them back into Germany. The bomber crews nicknamed them their "little friends." The North American P-51 Mustang was the immediate choice.
The bombers of the daylight missions were taking very heavy losses each day from Luftwaffe pilots until an escort fighter could stay with them deep into enemy territory and home again on every mission.