Author Topic: It's about time the Pole's got a plane too..  (Read 1542 times)

Offline Hangtime

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It's about time the Pole's got a plane too..
« on: August 13, 2001, 06:13:00 PM »
Yah; lets give 'em THIS!

     

Tho I suspect they may be a bit happier with this. (I know I would be)

     

J. Baughers notes on the Mustang III:

   
Quote
After these Mustang III aircraft had been delivered to England, the RAF decided that the hinged cockpit canopy offered too poor a view for European operations. A fairly major modification was made in which the original framed hinged hood was replaced by a bulged Perspex frameless canopy that slid to the rear on rails. This canopy gave the pilot much more room and the huge goldfish bowl afforded a good view almost straight down or directly to the rear. This hood was manufactured and fitted by the British corporation R. Malcolm & Co., and came to be known as the "Malcolm Hood". This hood was fitted to most RAF Mustang IIIs, and many USAAF Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-51B/C fighters received this modification as well.

Many pilots regarded the Malcolm-hooded P-51B/C as the best Mustang of the entire series. It was lighter, faster, and had crisper handling than the later bubble-hooded P-51D and actually had a better all-round view. Its primary weakness, however, was in its armament--only four rather than six guns, which often proved prone to jamming. Some of the modifications applied to the P-51D to improve the ammunition feed were later retrofitted into P-51B/Cs, which made them less prone to jamming. With modified guns and a Malcolm hood, the P-51B/C was arguably a better fighter than the P-51D, with better visibility, lower weight, and without the structural problems which afflicted the D. Its departure characteristics were also more benign.[/i]

Edit: That sure ain't the B model we have in AH !!!

The first RAF base to receive Mustang IIIs was at Gravesend in Kent. The Mustang III initially equipped No. 65 Squadron in late December of 1943, followed by No. 19 Squadron in March of 1944. Later the Mk. III also equipped Nos 64, 65, 66, 93, 94, 112, 118, 122, 126, 129, 165, 234, 237, 241 249, 250, 260, 268, 306, 309, 315, 316, 345, 430, 441, 442, and 516 Squadrons and No. 541 Squadron of RAF Coastal Command. These units included four Polish squadrons (306, 309, 315, 316), three RCAF, and one Free French.

Edit:.. hey; solves the French and Canadian issue too!

The new RAF Mustang IIIs began operations late in February 1944, escorting US heavy bombers as well as both US and RAF medium bombers.

Numerous RAF Mustang IIIs were diverted to the interception of V-1 "buzz-bombs". Some of them were "souped up" by using a special high-octane fuel and internal engine adjustments in order to increase the intake manifold pressure and made it possible to achieve a speed of 420 mph at 2000 feet. Since the typical V-1 flew at 370 mph, this made the "souped-up" Mustang very useful against these weapons.[/i]  

The CURRENT AH P51B has one of these two engines...

1620 hp Packard Merlin V-1650-3 twelve cylinder Vee liquid-cooled engine. Maximum speed was 388 mph at 5000 feet, 406 mph at 10,000 feet, 427 mph at 20,000 feet, 430 mph at 25,000 feet, 440 mph at 30,000 feet...

Or the 1695 hp Packard Merlin V-1650-7 twelve cylinder Vee liquid-cooled engine. Maximum speed was 395 mph at 5000 feet, 417 mph at 10,000 feet, 426 mph at 20,000 feet, 439 mph at 25,000 feet, 435 mph at 30,000 feet. Range on internal fuel was 955 miles at 397 mph at 25,000 feet, 1300 miles at 260 mph at 10,000 feet.

Whichever one it has; is surely aint as crisp as the D models down low.. so lets try the other one.. the one the Poles souped up to chase buzz bombs with.     :D

WE DON'T NEED NO STINKIN P51H!! WE JUST NEED A REAL POLISH/FRENCH/CANADIAN AIRPLANE!!!

    :D

edit: thanks to Funked and 303 Squadron's outstanding image gallery for photos.

[ 08-13-2001: Message edited by: Hangtime ]
The price of Freedom is the willingness to do sudden battle, anywhere, any time and with utter recklessness...

...at home, or abroad.

Offline funkedup

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It's about time the Pole's got a plane too..
« Reply #1 on: August 13, 2001, 06:14:00 PM »
Hangtime is my hero.     :)

Don't tell anybody but the Spit F IX in AH has 303 Sqn. markings.     :D

Best choice for the next PAF plane would be the Mustang Mk. I.  
309 Sqn. used these aircraft with some success, including the first single-engined fighter missions from Britain to Norway.

   

Brief info on 309 Sqn:  http://www.geocities.com/skrzydla1/309/309Squadron.html

[ 08-13-2001: Message edited by: funkedup ]

Offline Hangtime

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It's about time the Pole's got a plane too..
« Reply #2 on: August 13, 2001, 06:25:00 PM »
Hey Funked; what the hell is that thing in the top photo.. it'd make an outstanding R/C scale project. I'd like to track down plans for it.. whutever the hell it is..
The price of Freedom is the willingness to do sudden battle, anywhere, any time and with utter recklessness...

...at home, or abroad.

Offline funkedup

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It's about time the Pole's got a plane too..
« Reply #3 on: August 13, 2001, 06:27:00 PM »
PZL P.11c
 http://www.s-studio.net/polavhist/p11c.html

Here's the story behind the painting:  First Allied Air Victory.

You might recognize the emblem next to the number on the fuselage.    :)

 

[ 08-13-2001: Message edited by: funkedup ]

Offline Kieran

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It's about time the Pole's got a plane too..
« Reply #4 on: August 13, 2001, 07:22:00 PM »
I actually had been waiting for the P.11 to come up in conversation. Should have run a pool on it...

Offline DingHao2

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It's about time the Pole's got a plane too..
« Reply #5 on: August 13, 2001, 09:24:00 PM »
A polish A-36...hmmmmm...interesting photo, funked.

Offline funkedup

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It's about time the Pole's got a plane too..
« Reply #6 on: August 14, 2001, 12:00:00 AM »
Actually it's a Mustang Mk. I, not an A-36.  A-36 has dive brakes and bomb racks and no camera.   :)

Offline juzz

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It's about time the Pole's got a plane too..
« Reply #7 on: August 14, 2001, 12:38:00 AM »
Hangtime;

The AH P-51B is one of the majority of P-51B which had the V-1650-3 engine, which was more suited to higher altitudes.

The later production P-51B and most of the P-51C had the slightly more powerful V-1650-7 which was more suited to lower altitudes, this was the engine used by the P-51D/K too.

Oddly enough, some of the Australian CAC built P-51D had the V-1650-3.

Btw: P.11 -> P.24 -> IAR.80(Romanian fighter, good early war plane).

Funny fact: The P-51B(same markings as in AH) in WarBirds III has A-36 style dive brakes drawn under the wings!