Mustangs, spits an Messerschmitts are booring. 
Are you a P-51 freak?
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bobbysocks
Chief Master Sergeant
I am...for obvious reasons.
GrauGeist
Generalfeldmarschall zur Luftschiff Abteilung
Which is why Marcel secretly likes the F-82!You're more into twin boom fighters, Marcel?
A4K
Brigadier General
Love the P-51D/K purely for it's looks. Not interested in which was better/ faster/ whatever. That's all circumstantial and reliant on too many factors.
First WW2 model I ever built was the old Airfix 1:72 kit in Preddy's markings, btw.
First WW2 model I ever built was the old Airfix 1:72 kit in Preddy's markings, btw.
Which is why Marcel secretly likes the F-82!
jimh
Senior Airman
P-51 freak...yes, obsessed is more like it. It started when I was a kid. Love at first sight. Built tons of models...read every book...
Then in the early 1994 I bought dual in Crazy Horse...this made the obsession even worse.
After that I begged and bought rides in several Mustangs
Petie 2nd
American Beauty with Dennis Sanders
Flying Dutchman with Brian Adams
Straw Boss
Ridge Runner with Dan Martin
Lady Jo with Robbie Gordon
Lady B with Jimmy Leeward
Six Shooter with Chuck Hall
after a lot of flying these at Warbird Adventures
October 6th 2010...I finally made it to the front seat
Since then I have been really fortunate in flying a few more Mustangs...and I'm still obsessed with them!
Sarah Jean
Never Miss
Sorry this post is so long...if you take the leap, volunteer with the right groups, be humble, and get proper training, the sky is the limit.
Jim
Then in the early 1994 I bought dual in Crazy Horse...this made the obsession even worse.
After that I begged and bought rides in several Mustangs
Petie 2nd
American Beauty with Dennis Sanders
Flying Dutchman with Brian Adams
Straw Boss
Ridge Runner with Dan Martin
Lady Jo with Robbie Gordon
Lady B with Jimmy Leeward
Six Shooter with Chuck Hall
after a lot of flying these at Warbird Adventures
October 6th 2010...I finally made it to the front seat
Since then I have been really fortunate in flying a few more Mustangs...and I'm still obsessed with them!
Sarah Jean
Never Miss
Sorry this post is so long...if you take the leap, volunteer with the right groups, be humble, and get proper training, the sky is the limit.
Jim
Airframes
Benevolens Magister
A lifetime's obsession lead to fulfilment - well done Jim .... and I'm not jealous, honest (Oops, there goes my nose, growing again !!)
Wildcat
Major
bobbysocks
Chief Master Sergeant
my dad ( in a mustang ) was coming back from a mission and saw a lonely spitfire patrolling the English coast. he decided to be a smart @$$ and have some fun with the spit. it wasn't very fun at all, in fact it was humbling ordeal. he was glad it wasn't a real life dogfight...
To be fair they were both doing the jobs they were designed for, the Spitfire was defending its space and the Mustang was returning from a long range mission.
Your Dad should have met the guy, they could have discussed the Spitfires rate of climb and the weather over Berlin while having a nice beer.
- Thread starter
- #35
I'm guessing you're joking?
Since you have selectively quoted my post you know the answer. I think the Mustang was a great aircraft in all respects and looks great too. As a Brit it captures all that was great about WW2 cooperation between USA and UK. As a plane it was offered for production when the UK was desperate for fighters and when the USA was desperate for an escort up pop the British with an engine that fitted and made it just the job +a canopy that meant it was fit to be seen in high society.
As a Brit my sympathies lie with the spitfire which always did what it was originally designed to do from the start to the finish plus a lot more besides, and then I feel guilty because without the plane Jane Hurricane we would have been screwed from the off.
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goldmaster11
Airman
Used to be a P-51 freak. Thought it was superior in raw stats to every other American fighter. Nowadays, after reading about matchups between the Mustang, Hellcat, Bearcat, and Corsair, I'd take a Corsair or Bearcat over it (I've read the Corsair could outclimb despite having more weight, possibly better turn rate, more powerful and tougher engine, while the P-51 has the range and cockpit visibility).
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If you were a B17 crewman on the way to Berlin you would take the P51 which is what it is all about, on one particular course, one particular horse reigned supreme, the whole of the USA air strategy dictated deep penetration raids and the Mustang was the plane to do it. It couldnt land on a carrier and wasnt so hot at ground attack but that is a different discussion. They are all great planes, all have different strengths.
Thorlifter
Captain
I have to agree with Adler. It is a great aircraft, no doubt. But I believe it's over-rated. Here in the states, it's like the B-17 and P-51 won the entire war.
The Mustang sucks eggs compared to the glorious Corsair! (just biased banter)
The Mustang sucks eggs compared to the glorious Corsair! (just biased banter)
GregP
Major
That's a notion I haven't encountered very often. Most People who know much about aircraft know the B-17 was a major player for the U.S.A. but also realize the contributions made by other countries. If they aren't very familiar in general with aircraft they might think that way but, if so, it's probably a product of war movies and little knowledge of recent history.
Then again, you may be right in general since most of the people who come to an aviation museum know at least a little something about aviation or they wouldn't have enough interest to even stop. Maybe I just mostly see the interested few.
Then again, you may be right in general since most of the people who come to an aviation museum know at least a little something about aviation or they wouldn't have enough interest to even stop. Maybe I just mostly see the interested few.
