P-51 question.

unists (JStONGE123) wrote:

Why was the P-51 not used on aircraft carriers during WWII? Beside the obvious
no tail hook.....ect.

Actually it was tested in early 1944. One P-51D was modified at the
factory with strengthened inboard wing panels, a taller fin and
rudder, strengthening of the upper wing panels. It was tested making
simulated deck landings quite successfully.

Another P-51D was fitted with a tail hook and some strengthening in
the tail area. Test catapult launches in Philadelphia were so
successful that follow up tests were canceled.

In November 1944, flight tests were conducted off of Norfolk using the
USS Shangrila. 5 landings and takeoffs were conducted. The takeoffs
were using 700' mark, 600' mark and 250' mark. All successful.

With the aircraft at max gross weight, the run out on landing was 82'.

North American did a series of design studies designated P-51H that
included an arrestor hook and folding wingtips.

Comparative trials were flown between the Corsair F4U-1 and 1A and a
P-51B. The most telling points, the Corsair had the same range as the
Mustang but twice the firepower. The Corsair was faster than the P-51B
up to 24,500 feet. Above that the Mustang had the edge.

The Corsairs had a better climb rate to 20,000 feet and better level
flight acceleration.

Anyway, there's quite a bit more to the critiques, but the bottom line
was that the Navy elected to stay with the aircraft it was already
using in spite of the fact that the Mustang did show a lot of promise.

There's quite a bit of information about this in "The North American
Mustang" by M.J. Hardy.

I've put two pictures of the plane landing on the Shangrila at
http://home.mindspring.com/~scottp4/p51/





Scott Peterson


Santa's elves are just a bunch of subordinate Clauses.