XP-51 Info

[MIflyer]

Here's some info on the XP-51

Report on aileron modifications: https://ia801302.us.archive.org/2/items/L-550-nsia/L-550.pdf

Dive Recovery Flaps: https://ia600208.us.archive.org/33/...19930093004/NASA_NTRS_Archive_19930093004.pdf

Drag Tests: https://ia800204.us.archive.org/29/...19930093005/NASA_NTRS_Archive_19930093005.pdf

Testing by NACA: https://ia800504.us.archive.org/15/items/nasa_techdoc_19940022928/19940022928.pdf

 

[polo1112]

Very interesting pictures.

 

[crjohnstonjr]

here are some of the photos I have located on the XP-51. My Dad worked on the XP-51 when he was at NAA from Dec 1940 to July 1942.
crjohnstonjr's Recent Uploads
Also one photo of 038 when it was at ?? before being sent to the Smithsonian on the San Diego air musuem website. can't find the link right now..on flicker

 

[crjohnstonjr]

here is the picture of 038 abandoned and neglected....sad

 

[MIflyer]

Interesting shots! There was a great article on the restoration of the XP-51 in the EAA magazine several years ago/ I'll have to dig it out.

The testing at Farnborogh showed that the airplane was too hot! As in temperature. There was nothing separating the cockpit from the radiator down below. Hot air tended to get sucked up from the radiator past the pilot and out the rear cockpit vents. I suspect this may be why the Merlin powered versions had a plywood floor, while the Allison versions had the seat bolted directly to the wing with no floor. The P-38 was too cold to fly and the Mustang was too hot! I would guess that they may have put a fabric bulkhead below the cockpit on the earlier versions in order to keep the heat out.

 

[crjohnstonjr]

here are a few of the other links I have found on the XP-51 before it was restored.
https://crgis.ndc.nasa.gov/historic/XP-51_Mustang
https://crgis.ndc.nasa.gov/historic/P-51_"Mustang"_Archives_Collection
NASA has quite few files and photos of the Plane. Not much info from the EAA Display on the plane. no help as far as historical photos of the restoration or any info other than the EAA article published in the late70's or early 80's. I have tried to fine photos as the plane was restored in Ft Collins and nobody wants to talk about it... Curious... as to why...and I have tried a lot of people that should know....
another link from of all places Russia. North American NA-73 They have had the only photo of the plane from below and behind showing the air intake and exhaust.
Think I have some photos someplace. will post later

 

[V-1710]

Interesting shots! There was a great article on the restoration of the XP-51 in the EAA magazine several years ago/ I'll have to dig it out.

The testing at Farnborogh showed that the airplane was too hot! As in temperature. There was nothing separating the cockpit from the radiator down below. Hot air tended to get sucked up from the radiator past the pilot and out the rear cockpit vents. I suspect this may be why the Merlin powered versions had a plywood floor, while the Allison versions had the seat bolted directly to the wing with no floor. The P-38 was too cold to fly and the Mustang was too hot! I would guess that they may have put a fabric bulkhead below the cockpit on the earlier versions in order to keep the heat out.

One thing that may explain the cockpit floor difference between an Allison engine Mustang and a Merlin powered version is that the fuselage of the P-51B and later Mustang is about 7" deeper than that of a P-51A.

 

[MIflyer]

Yes, you can see that the radiator area was deeper. Had to be to accommodate both the more powerful Merlin and the added liquid aftercooler.

Now, I wonder if the cannon armed aircraft shown in that link is really the XP-51 or a later P51-1 (Mustang Mk1A)?

By the way, the ironic thing is that the "XP-51" was nothing more than a stock Mustang Mk1 off the production line. The first really experimental Mustang built was not a USAAF aircraft and thus did not get an X designation.