Mr Tomo Pauk Mr Dave bender
My point is that P 51 airframe was too heavy for the Alison and the merlin and at the same time could not recieve a bigger engine. Only superior fuels and extreme overboost ( amazing in my opinion but that s another discussion) kept it competitive at mid/low altitute and at high altitude the lack og 2 stage supercharges in german aircrafts. But these things had nothing to do with the excellence of its airframe.
Imagine that RAF in early 42 had the P51 with the Merlin 45 in place of Spit V . What results woulde get against Bf 109F4 and Fw190 A3/4?
I repeat P51 was excellent, top escort fighter (along late p38s) but during all its carrer i could see better dogfight/air superiority airframes,
Many german pilots had this opinion too
My point is that P 51 airframe was too heavy for the Alison and the merlin and at the same time could not recieve a bigger engine. Only superior fuels and extreme overboost ( amazing in my opinion but that s another discussion) kept it competitive at mid/low altitute and at high altitude the lack og 2 stage supercharges in german aircrafts. But these things had nothing to do with the excellence of its airframe.
Imagine that RAF in early 42 had the P51 with the Merlin 45 in place of Spit V . What results woulde get against Bf 109F4 and Fw190 A3/4?
I repeat P51 was excellent, top escort fighter (along late p38s) but during all its carrer i could see better dogfight/air superiority airframes,
Many german pilots had this opinion too