The story
The Mustang became legend when a Rolls-Royce Merlin replaced its original Allison engine, transforming it into the long-range escort that could take bombers deep into Germany and back. Mustang pilots claimed nearly 5,000 enemy aircraft destroyed in WWII. Well over a hundred still fly today as warbirds and air racers.
The last military Mustangs weren't retired until 1984, when the Dominican Republic stood down the world's final ones — 44 years after the type's first flight.
Quick answers
How do you identify a P-51 Mustang?
Bubble canopy, square-cut wingtips, and the deep chin scoop under the belly — the radiator duct that helped make the Mustang fast. Most survivors wear polished bare metal.
What does a P-51 Mustang sound like?
The Merlin V-12 — a smooth, rising howl on a low pass that no jet has ever matched.
How fast is the P-51 Mustang?
Top speed is 383 kts.
How many people does the P-51 Mustang carry?
Typical configuration: Single pilot.
How far can the P-51 Mustang fly?
Range is about 1,434 nmi.
How big is the P-51 Mustang?
It is 32 ft 3 in long and 37 ft 0 in across the wings.
When did the P-51 Mustang first fly?
Its first flight was in 1940.
How many P-51 Mustangs have been built?
15,686 built.
How rare is a P-51 Mustang in Bogey?
RARE. A good day. Most spotters go weeks between sightings of something this rare. Your first P-51 Mustang catch is worth 250 points.
