you guys underrated the P-51H! According to Wikipedia, it has a lot of improvements than the D version:
Compare!
P-51D:
General characteristics
Crew: 1
Length: 32 ft 3 in (9.83 m)
Wingspan: 37 ft 0 in (11.28 m)
Height: 13 ft 4½ in (4.08 m:tail wheel on ground, vertical propeller blade.)
Wing area: 235 ft² (21.83 m²)
Empty weight: 7,635 lb (3,465 kg)
Loaded weight: 9,200 lb (4,175 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 12,100 lb (5,490 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Packard V-1650-7 liquid-cooled supercharged V-12, 1,490 hp (1,111 kW) at 3,000 rpm;[78] 1,720 hp (1,282 kW) at WEP
Zero-lift drag coefficient: 0.0163
Drag area: 3.80 ft² (0.35 m²)
Aspect ratio: 5.83
Performance
Maximum speed: 437 mph (703 km/h) at 25,000 ft (7,600 m)
Cruise speed: 362 mph (580 km/h)
Stall speed: 100 mph (160 km/h)
Range: 1,650 mi (2,755 km) with external tanks
Service ceiling: 41,900 ft (12,800 m)
Rate of climb: 3,200 ft/min (16.3 m/s)
Wing loading: 39 lb/ft² (192 kg/m²)
Power/mass: 0.18 hp/lb (300 W/kg)
Lift-to-drag ratio: 14.6
Recommended Mach limit 0.8
P-51H:
General characteristics
Crew: 1
Length: 33 ft 4 in (10.16 m)
Wingspan: 37 ft 0 in (11.28 m)
Height: 11 ft 1 in (3.38 m)
Wing area: 235 ft² (21.83 m²)
Empty weight: 7,040 lb (3,195 kg)
Loaded weight: 9,500 lb (4,310 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 11,500 lb (5,215 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Packard V-1650-9 liquid-cooled supercharged V-12, 1,490 hp (1,111 kW) at 3,000 rpm, 2,220 hp (1,655 kW) at WEP[81]
Performance
Maximum speed: 487 mph (784 km/h) at 25,000 ft (7,600 m)
Range: 1,160 mi (1,865 km) with external tanks
Service ceiling: 41,600 ft (12,700 m)
Rate of climb: 3,300 ft/min (16.8 m/s)
Wing loading: 40.4 lb/ft² (197.4 kg/m²)
Power/mass: 0.23 hp/lb (385 W/kg)
As I said, the P-51H has a lot of improvements over the D version. These improvements include the maximum speed, engine horsepower, empty and loaded weight are less, meaning that the fighter is lighter (rhymes), rate of climb, and maximum takeoff weight. Disadvantages are a few: maximum range is less 1,160 miles with external tanks, P-51H can only be loaded with 6 50-caliber machine guns (D version can be loaded with HVAR rockets and 1 bomb), and the wing loading on the P-51H is a little more than the D (with 40.4 lb/ft squared)
Regards,
Kenneth Jr. A P-51D lover