Are there any P-51 flight tests out there?

[niklas]

I always wanted to ask this. Do real life flight tests exist for the P-51?

I know that this book "a hundred thousands" has some curves, but i´d like to see the original flight test. Including description of the surface, error correction, temperature correction if  possible, and so on. I mean a curve doesn´t say much without knowing the background.

Does someone have original test documents ?

thx
niklas

[F4UDOA]

Just from the F4U vrs P-51B test Niklas.

Oh yeah, there is a report done by the SEPT (Socioty of American test pilots) done in 1989.

[niklas]

The navy test doesn´t show much details, for example it is afaik not clear whether results are corrected for standard day conditions (This isn´t necessary in a comparision test naturally)

A test in 89 is not really what i m searching, too

niklas

[J_A_B]

I'm aware of flight tests done on the final WVa ANG P-51 in "WW2 config" in the 1950's, before they donated the aircraft to WPAFB.  

Then there's Navy flight tests of both the P-51B and P-51D, Army flight tests of the initial P-51, a botched British flight test that they screwed up, a number of more recent tests done on surviving P-51's (some of which are done on the plane in WW2 config) and then there's any number of less formal flight tests done by pilots and such.   That's just for starters; other tests exist.


In other words, there's probably more good info available for the P-51 than for any other WW2 fighter.  

I'm not sure how much of it is available online.


J_A_B

[joeblogs]

Looks like no one has dug this stuff out of the archives yet.  This is not a trivial exercise, but it is certainly worthwhile.  

Your best bet is to write either the Smithsonian or the US Airforce Museum in Dayton.

Here are some links that decribe how this is done:

http://www.nasm.si.edu/nasm/arch/info/services.htm
http://www.nasm.si.edu/nasm/arch/info/manuals.htm
http://www.nasm.si.edu/nasm/arch/info/techfiles.htm
http://www.naval-air.org/education/tech_mans.asp

http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/mua.htm

Note that the airforce museum has closed its library to the public, so the only way to contact them is via pen and paper.

-Blogs

[niklas]

Do you have those thests you´re speaking about JAB? Can you show me? What´s wrong with the british test (Actually i have this test, i forgot to mention that i´m searching basically american tests)

niklas

[Xjazz]

Originally posted by niklas
Do you have those thests you´re speaking about JAB? Can you show me? What´s wrong with the british test (Actually i have this test, i forgot to mention that i´m searching basically american tests)

niklas

Maybe UK test results dont look good enough for plane which "Win war"...