Author Topic: Why is the P51D a flying sloth?  (Read 915 times)

Offline Static_Void

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Why is the P51D a flying sloth?
« on: July 10, 2003, 06:21:13 PM »
As i recall from my knowledge of WW2 warbirds, wasnt the P51 capable of a 440MPH top speed?

EVEN the slowest earley production model P51-A had a 1200HP allison and a top speed of 390

I mean it just feels as if there is a 5HP bringgs and straton in there sometimes.

And also why are the slow speed flight caric's so bad? Mustang was a heavy plane @ 6800lb but...

Maybe its just me. Am i wrong?

Offline Steve

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Why is the P51D a flying sloth?
« Reply #1 on: July 10, 2003, 06:25:40 PM »
Hmmm, Interesting how opinions vary so greatly, isn't it?
I consider the pony to be quite nimble for a speed plane.  It's slow speed handling is much better, with the la7 as the exception, than any plane that is close to the pony's top speed.  And even the exception is iffy.
Fly the pony in it's sweet spot(speed wise) and you really have a dangerous machine.
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Offline Kweassa

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Why is the P51D a flying sloth?
« Reply #2 on: July 10, 2003, 06:31:30 PM »
That's one frickin' fast sloth, in that case, because when I fly the Bf109G-10, I know I have absolutely no chance of catching a P-51D if it only has 5k alt beneath him.

Offline _Schadenfreude_

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Re: Why is the P51D a flying sloth?
« Reply #3 on: July 10, 2003, 06:33:43 PM »
Quote
Originally posted by Static_Void
As i recall from my knowledge of WW2 warbirds, wasnt the P51 capable of a 440MPH top speed?

EVEN the slowest earley production model P51-A had a 1200HP allison and a top speed of 390

I mean it just feels as if there is a 5HP bringgs and straton in there sometimes.

And also why are the slow speed flight caric's so bad? Mustang was a heavy plane @ 6800lb but...

Maybe its just me. Am i wrong?


Both P51's are awesome - struggle to fly either the G10 or D9 after a week or so in the Stang.

Offline Blue Mako

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Re: Why is the P51D a flying sloth?
« Reply #4 on: July 10, 2003, 07:34:06 PM »
Quote
Originally posted by Static_Void
As i recall from my knowledge of WW2 warbirds, wasnt the P51 capable of a 440MPH top speed?

EVEN the slowest earley production model P51-A had a 1200HP allison and a top speed of 390

I mean it just feels as if there is a 5HP bringgs and straton in there sometimes.

And also why are the slow speed flight caric's so bad? Mustang was a heavy plane @ 6800lb but...

Maybe its just me. Am i wrong?


Sorry but you aren't flying it correctly.  The Mustang (both varients in AH) is a very fast plane but it is SLOW to accelerate.  Mustangs are fast when you conserve your energy.  They are not designed to turn fight so don't try to treat it like a Spitfire.  Keep it fast and only make gentle turns (unless you need to evade).

Two rules for flying the Mustang:

Altitude = speed

Speed = Life

:cool:

Offline icemaw

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Why is the P51D a flying sloth?
« Reply #5 on: July 10, 2003, 08:26:42 PM »
What Steve said its all about the sweet spot. Turning a pony is all about flaps.
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Offline F4UDOA

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Why is the P51D a flying sloth?
« Reply #6 on: July 10, 2003, 08:55:46 PM »
Funny thing is you hit the speeds right on the numbers.

Only problem is th Pony hits 440MPH at 25K.

How many times have you been at 25K in a Pony??

If your expecting 440MPH at sea level then you should look at the performance charts.

Offline davidpt40

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Why is the P51D a flying sloth?
« Reply #7 on: July 10, 2003, 10:59:39 PM »
P-51 accelerates slowly, so this is probably why it seems like a sloth.  For such a heavy plane, the 1650hp merlin engine is a bit lacking, but the radiative exhaust effect helps provide thrust (approximately 1000 pounds of thrust from the engine, 300 pounds of thrust from the exhaust).

So what this means is that you always want to put yourself in a position where you can dive on your opponent.  In dire circumstances, you can dogfight in the P51, but be sure to use the 'vertical'.

Offline Kweassa

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Why is the P51D a flying sloth?
« Reply #8 on: July 11, 2003, 05:48:48 AM »
I thought the 51D had the RR-Packard Merlin68 V-1650-70, rated 1490hp for mil, and 1720 for emergency.

Offline Zippatuh

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Why is the P51D a flying sloth?
« Reply #9 on: July 11, 2003, 08:20:12 AM »
It is actually pretty slow.  That’s why I’m going to take this opportunity to say we need the P51-H in AH.  The D model simply will not do.  If you want to perk it fine, the H should be say, about 5 points?  :D

Everyone else has pretty much nailed it.  It doesn’t accelerate very quickly and it was never meant to be a turn fighter.  It does have good stall characteristics at slow speeds with flaps out and a gentle stick.  The problem at stall speeds with the stang is the acceleration.  By the time you figure out you’ve lost air and are falling there’s not a whole lot to do about it if you’re on the deck.

Offline SLO

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Re: Re: Why is the P51D a flying sloth?
« Reply #10 on: July 11, 2003, 09:19:33 AM »
Quote
Originally posted by Blue Mako

Two rules for flying the Mustang:

Altitude = speed

Speed = Life

:cool:



Altitude = Perch for Cherry Pickin.....

Speed = Runstang....very long extensions.....


2 rules of the Cherry pickers galore:D

Offline Kweassa

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Why is the P51D a flying sloth?
« Reply #11 on: July 11, 2003, 09:47:55 AM »
Considering the crap machine Ta152H-1 is a 15 point plane, the P-51H's gonna at least be 30. Then maybe we can whine some more and request the Ta152C be modelled :o

Offline Steve

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Why is the P51D a flying sloth?
« Reply #12 on: July 11, 2003, 11:40:14 AM »
SLO...  you're whining about cherry pickers is getting predictable.  You have almost as many kills in the 262 and 163(combined)  as you do in any other fighter this tour.  I suppose you turnfight on the deck with these planes huh?  Oh, and an equal amount of kills in an f4u-c... a perk plane... oh... I bet you were on the deck turnfighting in that too eh?  Last tour you had over 200 kills in the typhoon/p51.  Oh.. right, you were turnfighting on the deck in those planes right?  Gimme a break SLO, you're exposed for the hypocrite that you are... now shaddup.
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Offline WestyAH

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Why is the P51D a flying sloth?
« Reply #13 on: July 11, 2003, 11:42:53 AM »
Static-Void, you're sure when you're flying that you don't have the P-51 stuck in reverse?

Offline Static_Void

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Why is the P51D a flying sloth?
« Reply #14 on: July 11, 2003, 12:23:00 PM »
Quote
Originally posted by WestyAH
Static-Void, you're sure when you're flying that you don't have the P-51 stuck in reverse?


lol. Just might be :)

I dunno just seems to take forever to get the P51 to its "sweet spot"

Maybe for high alt vulch's its great, i just cant seem to use its potential

Prolly tos that to skill though. Been flyin the N1K2 way to much as of lates