P-51 Mustang Vs. Me 262

[Zniperguy114]

I'm a fan of both planes, but I'm not sure which is better. What do you guys think? Vote for the one you believe to be better and I will think about them....

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Why are you trying to compare a Jet aircraft with a Piston aircraft?

 

[timshatz]

Ahhhh, why not. Makes life interesting.

I'll go with the P51. Mature design, you could hit full throttle without the engine(s) cathing fire.

 

[Waynos]

Me 262 for me, but isn't this a "poll"?

 

[Colin1]

I'm unsure of the aim of the poll

are the P-51 and the Me262 fighting each other or are we just comparing them as platforms?

 

[Zniperguy114]

Why are you trying to compare a Jet aircraft with a Piston aircraft?

I am comparing a jet with a piton aircraft because, if you look at my way, it makes sense. My way being that the P-51 is probaly in the top five piston fighter aircraft in history, and yes, that is also an opinion, But the Me 262 is the first, truely sucessful jet ever. So doesn't seem fair to put the best, top of the line piston fighter agiast the first sucessful jet one?

 

[Zniperguy114]

I'm unsure of the aim of the poll

are the P-51 and the Me262 fighting each other or are we just comparing them as platforms?

Colin, you choose. I only have a limited view of each aircraft and any comparision is perfectly fine by me. And plus, wounldn't seeing who would win in a dogfight be one deciding factor in the better fighter?

 

[RabidAlien]

Much as I love the 262, I'm gonna have to say the 51 in this match. When the 262 came into use, the average quality of pilots and training was much much better for the Allies; the '51 had pretty much all of its kinks and wrinkles ironed out (the aforementioned flaming engines...not a good thing!); and the 51 could stay up a whole lot longer. All it had to do was to evade the 262 for a few minutes, and then catch it on its way back to refuel.

 

[Erich]

Me 262 - better bomber killer

P-51 - better one on one fighter

end of poll........

 

[tomo pauk]

Hello, Zniperguy

The 'Polls' sub-forum is just a 'PgDown' away...

 

[Njaco]

I like the DVII.

 

[evangilder]

Moved thread to the proper section. SitRep is for current military matters.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Me 262 - better bomber killer

P-51 - better one on one fighter

end of poll........

Ditto, other than that I don't see the point in comparing them.

The Me 262 was the future. The P-51D was an escort fighter. The Me 262 was an interceptor.

 

[parsifal]

I think the Me 262 was superior, except in range. I think if the 262 had been an allied fighter, that problem would have been solved by 1946.

The 262 had a lot of problems particulalry in engine wear, but as a pice of technology its hard to go past. Its ironic to me that despite this, the impact of the 262 on the progress of the war was virtually nil

 

[renrich]

As an escort fighter, the P51 was probably the best during WW2. As a bomber interceptor, as long as the intercept was close to the ME's base the ME262 was probably the best. In a one V one, it was probably a draw, with the ME having a big Vmax advantage and more powerfully armed, if hits are made, and the P51 being more maneuverable and with a loiter advantage. I think a wise ME 262 driver would avoid a dogfight given possible engine problems with a lot of different throttle inputs.

 

[drgondog]

As a pilot asked to fly and shoot down aircraft I would pick the 262.

The tactical advantage of great endurance combined with excellent high end piston performance gave the Mustang an edge in the closing days of the war but did not make it a superior airplane.

 

[beaupower32]

Very tough call. As much as I love the Me-262, I think Im going to tip my hat towards the P-51.

The 262 had a lot of Marvials and set the way of the future. If it had come earlier, It could have made a difference, or at least extended the war by 6 months to a year IMHO. But the Allies found its weekness in that it was very vulnerable on take off and landing, which the P-51 pilots (and other aircraft) used to great success.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

I think the Me 262 was superior, except in range. I think if the 262 had been an allied fighter, that problem would have been solved by 1946.

The 262 had a lot of problems particulalry in engine wear, but as a pice of technology its hard to go past. Its ironic to me that despite this, the impact of the 262 on the progress of the war was virtually nil

Too little too late, but it was the sign of things to come.

 

[timshatz]

Too little too late, but it was the sign of things to come.

Exactly,262 pointed to the future. Had plenty of problems, as new technology does, but was a well thought out design and pretty good work by the engineers that made it (all things considered). But the fuel burn and engine wear just were signs of a design that still had plenty to go in refinements. Another couple of years, a few more models and it would've been superior to the P51.

Still, those engines catching fire had to be hairy.

 

[drgondog]

Guys - if mean time between failure is the criteria you want to use to judge to make a judgment then the marvelous Mustang gets the vote.

If you want range for escort or time to loiter, the 51 wins again.

Fast forward to Korea - the Mustang still wins over the MiG 15 - right? Same criteria.

There is simply zero question that the Me 262 was the best fighter when compared to any piston engine ever developed based on performance and firepower.. the reliability issues were not based on design but shortage of design optimized materials not available in Germany when the a/c was built.

I guarantee that no Mustang fighter pilot preferred being in a P-51 to say a P-80 when the Me 262 was spotted, reliability being a consideration.

When the two ships were in the air at the same time and space, by definition the 262 was 'reliable enough'.. IMHO.