Aircraft that I would like to see eventually

[Red Tail 444]

forward view...anyone by chance have the specs? I dont:o

[Sachs]

Why don't they add a polish or a french plane that is more deserving?  WE already have 2 51's and no french or Polish planes.  We have way to many US planes as it is.

[senna]

RedTail, the B and C models are actually the same. The only difference was that they were manufactured at different locations. I'll let others who are pony experts fill in the details...

[Red Tail 444]

Originally posted by senna
RedTail, the B and C models are actually the same. The only difference was that they were manufactured at different locations. I'll let others who are pony experts fill in the details...

Learning something every day...thanks!

[cajun]

Originally posted by Karnak

C.R.42
I-16-10
I-16-24
I-153
PZL P.11c

Is that you Karnak? Well very good choices

[jonnyb]

Red Tail, I saw that P51-C in your picture last weekend here in Omaha.  Great airshow with plenty of WWII birds.

Anyway, on to your query...

North American had two factories producing P51s.  One was in Inglewood, CA, the other in Dallas, TX.  The only difference between the B and C models is where it was produced.  Those produced in Dallas got the C designation and those from Inglewood got the B.  Other than the designation, they were identical planes.

The early B&C models were powered by the Packard-Merlin V-1650-3.  It is a 1649  cubic inch engine producing a maximum of 1620 horsepower on WEP.  The later models were powered by the V-1650-7 (the same engine in the P51D).  It too is a 1649 cubic inch engine but produces a maximum of 1720 horsepower on wep.  The difference between the two engines is the two-staged supercharger on the 1650-7.  That was what gave it the added horses.

Some other subtle differences between the early and late models are in fuel capacity, weight and service ceiling.  All were outfitted with 4x.50 caliber wing-mounted machine guns holding 350 rounds each in the outer pair and 280 each in the inner.  All could carry armaments of 2x1000 pound bombs on hardened wingpoints, not the 500 pound max that is modelled in AH.

Well, I believe that about covers the P51 for you.

BTW, there will be a quiz.

[Red Tail 444]

Originally posted by jonnyb
 All could carry armaments of 2x1000 pound bombs on hardened wingpoints, not the 500 pound max that is modelled in AH.

And the extra credit question would be, why is the loadout inaccurate in AH?

Thanks for the quick reply..that P-51C is based here in St. Paul, proud to say some of my $$ went into restoring it...wonder if they'll let me take her for a (flat) spin around the lakes:)

[jonnyb]

Unfortunately, I don't know the answer to that.  I can tell you that the P51A loadout consisted of 2x500 pound bombs.  That model was powered by the Allison V-1710-81 which was a 1710 cubic inch 1200 horsepower engine.

[gofaster]

Gotta love those long French noses.

[J_A_B]

"The difference between the two engines is the two-staged supercharger on the 1650-7. That was what gave it the added horses. "

Actually they both had two-stage superchargers.  The difference that the gear ratio of the -7's supercharger was reduced.  For what reason God only knows, because pilots hated it (it gave added power down low but sapped power at combat altitude).  In AH it helps because most combat is under 20K but compare the P-51B to the D at 30K and you WILL see a massive difference (at 30K the P-51B has more than 2x the climbrate of the 51D).

J_A_B

[Sundog]

I agree with everything Karnak has, but would probably substitute the A-36A for the P-51A. But I might add the 4 cannon P-51 (No letter designation) as well Yeah, P-51 & A-36A instead of the P-51A

I would also add the Gloster Gladiator, Arsenal VG-33, and the I-15bis to the list. The Gladiator could fill the early war role it played in the Med., the VG-33 would give the French a competitive airplane, although few were built (I really need more info on that one's service record) and the I-15 would allow us to run an effective Spanish Civil War scenario with everything else he already has on his list.

[Blue Mako]

Drop everything from the list except the Boomerang.