July 26, 2010

The P-51 Mustang – One Badass Airplane, Up Close.

Filed under: Uncategorized — Jim @ 8:29 pm

The P-51 played a pivotal role in WWII by virtue of its capability to successfully escort American bombers deep into Europe. Prior to the introduction of the P-51, American bomber groups had to fly the last leg of their missions without fighter escorts, and, as such, had served as target practice for German Messerschmitts. (A detailed history of the P-51 Mustang is here.)

If you are at all interested in the World War II and the valor of the men who stepped into such machines to fly into enemy territory and possibly have to go one-on-one with an enemy fighter pilot, take a look at this amazing hi-def photo of the inside of the cockpit of a P-51 Mustang. Please give it time to fully load in order to see the photo in full color and to use the features permitting an up-close and 360-degree view of everything in the cockpit. (You can see one fly and listen to the sound of its engine here.)

I am in awe of such machines and the men who flew them.

Thanks to Jumpmaster Lou for the link.

7 Comments »

  1. I went to the American Air Power museum, the day that they were setting up for the air show on Jones Beach.

    http://www.americanairpowermuseum.com

    They had a Mustang, and a WHOLE bunch of other warplanes.

    Jim, if you ever want to feel one of the biggest surges of adrenaline in your life, you’ll go see that show.

    The video you linked is great, but standing next to one of these things makes your hair stand straight up.

    Awesome. Thanks for the reminder, I feel the same way about the pilots of the Flying Fortress and Lancaster. Guts, I tell ya.

    Comment by Mike R. — July 27, 2010 @ 1:11 am

  2. forgot this link as well: http://www.jonesbeachairshow.com/

    Comment by Mike R. — July 27, 2010 @ 1:11 am

  3. had the opportunity to take a ride in the jump seat of a 51-D back in the seventies. i’ve yet to find adequate words to describe that 30 minute experience.

    Comment by gregor — July 27, 2010 @ 7:54 am

  4. My late FIL flew those at the end of WW2. He was also carrier qualified and even managed to earn a Mach pin. Unfortunately he wasn’t flying anymore by the time I met my husband.

    Comment by Teresa — July 27, 2010 @ 11:27 pm

  5. Very cool. My uncle flew a P-51 in WWII, escorting bombers on the last leg. His stories were incredible, and he had the utmost respect for 109’s. Anyway, he lived through it, many didn’t. I was at the Dayton International Air Show a couple of weeks ago, and they had a couple of Mustangs flying. I’d seen ’em before, but every time I see one of ’em, I think of my uncle. Bad rides they are.

    Comment by Yabu — July 28, 2010 @ 9:32 am

  6. Stood by (fire department) for an airshow last Saturday. The restored P-51 (Silver Streak) make several demo runs. The P-51 is the most beautiful aircraft ever built. My first flight on a combat aircraft in the AF was on a B-47 bomber.

    Comment by Scrapiron — July 28, 2010 @ 11:22 pm

  7. http://www.aviastar.org/index2.html Lots of pictures or Aircraft around the world.

    Comment by Scrapiron — July 28, 2010 @ 11:25 pm

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