How much better was the P-51 B/C over the D model?

BiffF15 · Jul 15, 2019

Navalwarrior said:
Resp:
I know this question deals with post war P-51s, but you may have an answer. I have seen at least two P-51D with extended 'vertical stabilizers' at Air Shows. These are much taller than the 14'8" stabilizer on factory Mustangs. What, if any, advantages does a taller one provide?

NavalWarrior,

IIRC the tail cap was added to the D models starting with the Cavalier modded aircraft (export post WW2). Most I believe were went to South/ Latin America, with some of those actually returning to the states eventually. I have also seen some newer restorations adopting the taller cap without having been a Cavalier plane.

Cheers,
Biff

XBe02Drvr · Jul 16, 2019

drgondog said:
The aft deck issue was more a root cause leading to decreasing the H.Stab angle of incidence and adding metal elevators due to ripping fabic elevators in terminal dives.

Thanks drgondog, I stand corrected. Guess I better vet my sources a little more carefully.
Cheers,
Wes

drgondog · Jul 30, 2019

Glider said:
I know I sometimes state the obvious but this is really obvious, even for me.

The title is How much better was the P-51 B/C over the D model?

The obvious reply is - Overall if the B/C was better than the D model, there wouldn't have been a D model.

Firepower in numbers of guns, also in the better reliability of the guns. Plus significantly increased visibility, vital when most pilots were shot down by the plane they didn't see trump any theoretical minor difference in performance.

The engineering PD started on the six gun P-51B wing before the XP-51B first flight Nov 30, 1942. The Lines were completed for the B wing and D canopy by April 1943 before the first P-51B-1-NA first flight - as part of the NA-106/107 contract. The Brits wanted all B's delivered with Malcolm Hood and the D canopy was the answer from NAA.

Navalwarrior · Jul 30, 2019

drgondog said:
The engineering PD started on the six gun P-51B wing before the XP-51B first flight Nov 30, 1942. The Lines were completed for the B wing and D canopy by April 1943 before the first P-51B-1-NA first flight - as part of the NA-106/107 contract. The Brits wanted all B's delivered with Malcolm Hood and the D canopy was the answer from NAA.

Resp:
I would have gladly flown either model.

BiffF15 · Jul 30, 2019

Navalwarrior said:
Resp:
I would have gladly flown either model.

I still would!

jimh · Dec 14, 2019

I know this is an old thread but I've had a chance to talk to a few operators 3 out of 4 were set at 12 degrees. I re-read 1000 Destroyed and judging from accounts from pilots and gun jamming in the B I'd still opt for the 6 shooter. It's just a great all around fighter no matter how you slice it. They all had their strengths and weaknesses but I'd still ride the pony

Navalwarrior · Dec 14, 2019

jimh said:
I know this is an old thread but I've had a chance to talk to a few operators 3 out of 4 were set at 12 degrees. I re-read 1000 Destroyed and judging from accounts from pilots and gun jamming in the B I'd still opt for the 6 shooter. It's just a great all around fighter no matter how you slice it. They all had their strengths and weaknesses but I'd still ride the pony

Reap:
Bottom line; the D was an improved aircraft.

How much better was the P-51 B/C over the D model?

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