P-51 vs. Hellcat

snelson · Aug 5, 2014

with the hellcat being a lot heavier than the mustang and it has a 2000 hp engine i would have thought that it could out dive about anything like the P-47. so what am i missing

grampi · Aug 6, 2014

snelson said:
with the hellcat being a lot heavier than the mustang and it has a 2000 hp engine i would have thought that it could out dive about anything like the P-47. so what am i missing

Being heavy certainly helps a plane's diving ability, but aerodynamics also plays a big role...these planes would probably do well over 500 mph in a dive, so aerodynamics is huge! This is why the Mustang would outdive many of the heavier fighters of the time...

wuzak · Aug 11, 2014

grampi said:
I highly doubt the Hellcat could outdive a Mustang...I think the only plane that could was the P-47...I also doubt the hellcat could outturn the Mustang at any altitude as it was considerably bigger and heavier than the 'Stang...the only area where it could possibly hang with the P-51 would be in roll rate...

It also had 42% more wing area.

I believe that the F6F was noted for its turning ability and the P-51 not so much.

parsifal · Aug 12, 2014

I believe that the F6F was noted for its turning ability and the P-51 not so much

.

Possibly more correct to say it was a good turner at higher speeds, but its higher speeds were moderate speeds for the P-51.

At low speeds, neither was a particualarly good turning aircraft. The problem for the hellcat is that its spped ranges were much more restrictive than the P-51s speed envelope.

BLine22 · Jul 4, 2016

Head to head Mustang has the advantage but if I had to deliver ground ordnance Hellcat is a better choice. Much more rugged and probably the easiest single engine fighter to fly.

BLine22 · Jul 4, 2016

Performance wise the Hellcat is probably more equal to an Allison power Mustang. The improved Hellcat is probably a better match for the Merlin Mustang, it called the Bearcat, albeit a little late to the show.

P-51 vs. Hellcat

P-51 vs. Hellcat

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