Author Topic: Photo of a P-51D ord hardpoint (Read 798 times)

Meatwad · « **on:** October 23, 2007, 08:03:12 PM »

Took this at an airshow last weekend. Thought 51D's could carry more then 550 lb

Picture of the aircraft data also

Stoney74 · « **Reply #1 on:** October 23, 2007, 10:23:52 PM »

P-51D POH states that 1000 lb bombs could be carried, but that they created such poor handling characteristics that they were not typically. I have no information regarding typical employment and whether they were or were not carried in a combat mission. Conventional wisdom would be that 500 lb bombs were the normal bomb for P-51D. I don't know if there is any information for the P-51B.

Meatwad · « **Reply #2 on:** October 23, 2007, 10:36:14 PM »

Some goofball there standing next to me was trying to be a know-it-all. He was saying things that made no sense (saying wrong info), so I pointed to that hardpoint and said "Thats odd, some 51D's carried 1000 lb bombs, wonder why that just says 550'

His reply - P51's NEVER carried 1000 lb bombs because they were fighters, not bombers. Then something about how they rarely carried bombs because they were just fighters. I didnt really hear what he said because I already closed my ears when he tried to tell info that was inaccurate.

Stoney74 · « **Reply #3 on:** October 23, 2007, 11:34:15 PM »

Another one of those "History Channel Experts" obviously. I can't begin to tell you what a disservice the Military Channel does to the actual U.S. Military

Guppy35 · « **Reply #4 on:** October 24, 2007, 04:01:25 AM »

Funny how that works. How much weight do you suppose this Iwo Jima based 51 is carrying as it heads out for that 9 hour flight to Japan.

2 165 Gallon tanks, and 6 rockets. Bet that's more then 550 pounds.

What the manufacturer said and what they actually carried in wartime was clearly two different things.

splitatom · « **Reply #5 on:** October 24, 2007, 05:33:26 PM »

the p 38 was a fighter but it also became a bomber they just uped it to 2 2000 pound bombs and a norten bombsight you could have 50 p 38 and 2 would have the norten also it was what the maker recomended and what it could cary can be difrent

SAS_KID · « **Reply #6 on:** October 24, 2007, 06:06:44 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by splitatom
the p 38 was a fighter but it also became a bomber they just uped it to 2 2000 pound bombs and a norten bombsight you could have 50 p 38 and 2 would have the norten also it was what the maker recomended and what it could cary can be difrent

wrong plane.

Stoney74 · « **Reply #7 on:** October 24, 2007, 08:04:26 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Guppy35
Funny how that works. How much weight do you suppose this Iwo Jima based 51 is carrying as it heads out for that 9 hour flight to Japan.

2 165 Gallon tanks, and 6 rockets. Bet that's more then 550 pounds.

It is. Those tanks would weigh 990 lbs a piece, plus 140 lbs or so for each rocket. I believe the point the POH makes is that the bombs destabilize the handling to the point you wouldn't want to take them into a tactical profile. Obviously, the fuel tanks would be dropped going into combat, and therefore, wouldn't be a problem. Or not...

MiloMorai · « **Reply #8 on:** October 25, 2007, 06:47:31 AM »

Was there another bomb rack that was rated at 1000lb?

A 165 gal dt weighed 135lb empty. When full of fuel, the combined weight of fuel and tank was 1125lbs.

Stoney74 · « **Reply #9 on:** October 25, 2007, 08:51:41 AM »

Sorry, I didn't account for the weight of the tanks--just the fuel. Here's the text from the POH.

"The removable bomb racks slung under the wing are designed to hold either 100, 250, or 500 lb bombs. 1000 lb bombs can be carried to accomplish particular missions, but the extra weight is undesireable and restricts the airplane to straight and level flight."

There is another paragraph in the fuel system description that states that the 110 gallon drop tanks weigh enough to approach the limit load of the wing and bomb racks, and that 75 gallon tanks are the norm.

Again, I suppose that if the load factor on the wings is 1.0, it would seem the aircraft could carry the weight, but once the plane gets loaded up in a combat profile, it would be easy to exceed the limit load of the racks and wings. Apparently my earlier description of "handling characteristics" was not completely accurate compared to the actual text.

usieric3 · « **Reply #10 on:** October 26, 2007, 11:03:12 AM »

There was a P38, glazed nose "Bomb Lead" aircraft produced and used. The bombadier station replaced the nose moounted armament, and would be the lead aircraft for an entire formation.

There were also air ambulance versions of the 38 with stretchers in the nose instead of guns.

For what it's worth.

PukinDog

Angus · « **Reply #11 on:** October 26, 2007, 05:53:58 PM »

P51 C's would haul 2x 1000 lb's AFAIK.

Stoney74 · « **Reply #12 on:** October 26, 2007, 06:41:18 PM »

P-51C was just a B built at a different factory IIRC...