Main Menu

United States' North American P-51H Mustang fighter1

Design

The P-51H had its weight reduced by using some of the features from the XP-51F, XP-51G, and XP-51J prototypes.1

The tail fin was made taller.1

Prototype

The P-51H first flew on February 3, 1945.1

Production

555 P-51Hs were built before the end of the war.1 A further 1,845 were cancelled.1

Usage

Some P-51Hs saw use in the Pacific during the last three months of the war.1

  North American P-51H Mustang1
Type Fighter bomber1
Crew 11
Engine (Type) Packard V-1650-9 Merlin1
Cylinders V 121
Cooling  
War emergency HP 2,2181
Propeller blades 41
Dimensions  
Span 37'1
11.28 m1
Length 33' 4"1
10.16 m1
Height 13' 8"1
4.16 m1
Wing area  
Weight  
Empty 7,040 lb1
3,193 kg1
Loaded 11,500 lb1
5,216 kg1
Performance  
Speed @ 15,000' /
4,570 m
463 mph1
745 kph1
Speed @ 25,000' /
7,620 m
487 mph1
784 kph1
Climb to 30,000' /
9,144 m
12.5 minutes1
Service ceiling 41,600'1
12,680 m1
Range - fuel tanks 1,160 miles1
1,867 km1
Armament  
Wings 6: 0.5" MG1
Bombs 2,000 lb1
907 kg1
OR  
Rockets 10: 5"1
10: 127 mm1

Sources:

  1. Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998
Home page graphic for wwiivehicles.com, pictures of Sherman, T-34/85, Tiger, and Churchill