|
|
Post by Mustang51 on Oct 27, 2020 11:34:52 GMT 12
Fist flight of the NA-73X on this date 80 years ago.........and still going strong !
|
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 27, 2020 12:37:32 GMT 12
Yeah, a rather significant date in history. Happy Birthday to the Mustang!
|
|
|
|
Post by johnnyfalcon on Oct 27, 2020 16:32:45 GMT 12
First of the laminar flow aerofoils?
|
|
|
|
Post by madmac on Oct 28, 2020 8:51:19 GMT 12
First of the laminar flow aerofoils? Actually that was the Consolidated XP4Y Corregidor followed by the B24 both with the Davis Aerofoil, not that they really understood why it was so much better at the time. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Davis_wingThe NAA drawing office also used a new lofting technique on the Mustang which helped improved the constancy of sectional changes through the airframe. For those that haven't found it (beware it may consume a few hours of your time) www.mustangsmustangs.com/p-51/home/ |
|
|
|
Post by colford on Oct 28, 2020 13:32:47 GMT 12
Yes, a big birthday for the Mustang, 80 years. For those interested in reading a more recent history of the gestation of the Mustang can I commend the following recent release.  P-51B Marshall-Ford Book Cover by Colin Ford, on Flickr It particularly looks at the politics within the USAAC/USAAF and their views of NAA, the impact of the infighting between different the different parts of the USAAC/USAAF in even considering the Mustang as a front line pursuit type because it had been developed to a British requirement, and the path from the early Allison engined Mustangs to the first of the Merlin engined Mustangs. Makes significant use of previously unpublished NAA material as well as material from a large number of Mustang researchers around the world. Doyen of Mustang history writers Bob Gruenhagen provided significant oversight to this book and has given it his endorsement. This volume prinicpally covers developments up to around June 1944. A planned future volume will delve into the development of the P-51D and later Mustang variants, both experimental and production. It has a large section in the latter section of its 352 pages - Appendices that look in some detail at the aerodynamic design of the Mustang and some of its significant design innovations and attributes. I will admit at this point my contribution to this work - be it a small one - the provision of material and sections on the RAF's operational use and RAF specific modifications to the early Allison engined Mustangs. There was also supposed to be due out about now - before Covid came along - a documentary film on the Mustang titled "American Warhorse", produced by the same team (with a couple of extra people) who did the Supermarine Spitfire documentary film a couple of years back. At this stage, last I heard due out first half next year. |
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 28, 2020 14:07:47 GMT 12
The P-51B/C/Mustang III are the nicest looking of all the breed with the high back. Lots of RNZAF pilots flew the Mustang III in operations too. I like the P-51D of course but nothing beats the looks of the highbacks (just like with Spitfires).
|
|
