Dave wrote in
:

Well said...

The Mustang was (is) a fine mount, and while it shares the mantra as
the "best" fighter with others, each fighter had to be flown in it's
design environment.

It was best (designed to be) long range fighter ESCORT, which it
excelled at.

Down low and in the dirt, many other planes could out gun, out turn,
out climb and out dive it..

One of the best tactics for a P-51 pilot if caught down low was to
get outta dodge.. Some of the enemy pilots called them "runstangs"
(I forget the translation)

But 15000 ft, while other planes started to wheeze.. the stang could
still breathe, and , clearly in it's design element, was the ride to
have...up at that alt....

As a "dogfighter" ? (within the definition) .. nope...


I'd love to find out, but basically we're arguing about which supermodel
we'd sleep with, of course.


Bertie