Something about the p51 I've never understood

[Boxman]

How do you take an engine from a lightweight fighter,  (Spit)  put it in a heavier fighter; and turn it into a high performance, long-range fighter?

[Karnak]

Lower drag and lots of fuel capacity.

Not the difference in their climb/acceleration and turn handling.

[stran]

How do you take an engine from a lightweight fighter,  (Spit)  put it in a heavier fighter; and turn it into a high performance, long-range fighter?

i wouldn't consider the p51 a high performance fighter.

[Stoney]

Lower drag and lots of fuel capacity.

This...  From an aerodynamic perspective, the P-51 design was one of the most advanced of the war.  It was one of the lowest drag airplanes built during the period.  Its amazing to see what a difference the aero design can make on the same powerplant.  Spits, for all of their good handling qualities, were really high-drag aircraft, at least until some of the late-model versions came out at the end of the war.

[uptown]

High speed flaps, big fuel load and DT too if you need them, wing and body design. Great vis and guns.

[uptown]

i wouldn't consider the p51 a high performance fighter.

I would. If flown to it's potential. There are different tactics for different planes.In a high speed dogfight the flaps alone can make a difference in the outcome. 1 notch of flaps at 350 IAS is high performance 

[Bodhi]

i wouldn't consider the p51 a high performance fighter.

You obviously have never flown in a P-51.

[Ack-Ack]

i wouldn't consider the p51 a high performance fighter.

And what would you consider it to be?


ack-ack

[stran]

And what would you consider it to be?


ack-ack

a high alt flyer, given a few minutes and no other cons around the tables can be turned. if i come in co-e with a yak-9u or ki-84 i'm usually shooting him down or having to wave him goodbye.

the p51d has a good guns package and top end speed, it's only average in acceleration.

[Soulyss]

a high alt flyer, given a few minutes and no other cons around the tables can be turned. if i come in co-e with a yak-9u or ki-84 i'm usually shooting him down or having to wave him goodbye.

the p51d has a good guns package and top end speed, it's only average in acceleration.

Take the fight up to 25K, up there is climbs 500ft/min better than the Yak9 and is probably 20-30 mph faster.  Against the Ki-84 it's 50mph faster up there according to the charts.  Granted the 51 would be at a disadvantage in a low speed turning fight on the deck but that's not the only measure of "performance".

Any 1940's area aircraft that could fly from London to Berlin fight and come home and had a top speed of 430-440mph at altitude is a high performance fighter, I think there's a hard time arguing contrary.

[Die Hard]

Soulyss, you just confirmed Stran's conclusion that the P-51 is just a "high alt flyer".

[MjTalon]

Soulyss, you just confirmed Stran's conclusion that the P-51 is just a "high alt flyer".

Isn't that what it was designed to do?   

[Die Hard]

Isn't that what it was designed to do?   

Yes, but it seems some people here take exception to that.

[Karnak]

It is still high performance on the deck.  It is faster than the Spit XIV at sea level despite the Mk XIV's monster engine.

[Die Hard]

It really depends on how you define "performance". I'd say that the P-51 definitively is a performance fighter, but that its performance is of limited usefulness in the AH game environment. In the real world it was much more useful.