P-51 Mustang operations on aircraft carriers

• Jul 4, 2015

• #1

P

pampa14

Airman 1st Class

126

55

May 14, 2013

I share with you some photos showing P-51 Mustangs on aircraft carriers. There was a naval version of this plane? To see the photos, visit the link below:


Aviação em Floripa: Um P-51 Mustang navalizado


Cheers.

 

• Jul 4, 2015

• #2

Airframes

Benevolens Magister

62,924

12,417

Aug 24, 2008

Cheshire, UK

Good stuff. As far as I know without checking further, one P-51D was used for deck landing trials, but didn't proceed further, the type not seeing carrier service.
Those pics showing the decks full of Mustangs will be of aircraft being transported for delivery to, via shore off-loading, land-based units.

 

• Jul 4, 2015

• #3

K

Koopernic

Banned

1,623

767

Dec 27, 2013

The handling of the P-51B/D was considered unsatisfactory for carrier landings however the P51H was considered much better handling a carrier approach speeds due to the longer tail and bigger fin area in particular and development started.

These photos seem to be of strictly takeoff only delivery flights.

 

• Jul 4, 2015

• #4

net_sailor

Senior Airman

337

89

Nov 2, 2006

Elbląg/Poland

www.dws.org.pl

Here you got a full story of navalized Mustang:
Mustang! - Documents

 

• Jul 4, 2015

• #5

kool kitty89

Senior Master Sergeant

3,096

95

Aug 29, 2007

San Jose, CA

I wonder if any of the Allison Mustang variants would have proven a better basis for carrier conversion given the lower weight, wing loading, and stall speed. (possibly better lateral stability given the COG differences too) The A-36's dive breaks might have had some benefit for decreasing landing speed as well. (certainly for improving rate of deceleration but possibly also allowing slightly higher power settings on landing approach and added induced lift from higher velocity prop wash)

 

• Jul 5, 2015

• #6

Gnomey

Globetrotting Surgeon General

Staff

Mod

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Nov 28, 2004

London / Southsea / Royal Deeside, UK

www.flickr.com

Good stuff!

 

• Jul 6, 2015

• #7

GregP

Major

9,503

6,414

Jul 28, 2003

Chino, California, U.S.A.

Ineresting idea, kool kitty. Never considered that one.

 

• Jul 6, 2015

• #8

GrauGeist

Generalfeldmarschall zur Luftschiff Abteilung

28,739

23,485

Aug 29, 2008

Redding, California

www.netallurgy.com

there was actually several P-51 types evaluated by the USN (P-51, P-51D and P-51H), we've had this discussion before in other threads.

On Pampa's page, there is a mix of transported land-based P-51Ds and the USN's evaluation trials aboard the CV-38 Shangri-La (the first four images are of the P-51D trails aboard the Shangri-La)