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North American P-51D Mustang

  • North American P-51D Mustang
  • North American P-51D Mustang

The P-51D Mustang

Rolls Royce of Fighters

At Great Britain’s request in 1940, the P-51 was initially designed similar to the NA-73 aircraft. With the addition of the Rolls-Royce Merlin V-1650 engine, the re-designated P-51D entered service in 1943. Credited as one of the finest fighters ever designed, Mustangs flew in almost every fighter squadron in the US Army Air Forces by 1945. During World War II, P-51Ds escorted bombers into Germany and destroyed 4,950 enemy aircraft. These aircraft also served during the Korean War, mainly providing close air support of ground forces.

Mustang Maintenance

During World War II, Hill Field’s engine repair shops maintained and overhauled the Packard-built engine in the P-51 aircraft until the end of the conflict. Hill Field workers also performed maintenance and repair on the Mustang itself, even after the war and into the 1950s. With the demobilization that followed World War II, Hill personnel prepared and stored various P-51 and V-1650 engines for possible future use.

Born & Bred Utah Ace

Talented crews used parts from several P-51s to build the P-51D on display. Due to the unique assembly of this aircraft, it uses a serial number once assigned to a P-51 lost during a mission over Europe in 1944. More specifically, this Mustang is painted to reflect the coloring and markings of the aircraft flown by World War II Ace Colonel Chelsey Peterson in the 4th Fighter Squadron. Colonel Peterson was a Utah native, born in Santaquin, and named the aircraft after his wife—Audrey.

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North American P-51D Mustang
North American P-51D Mustang Blueprint

North American P-51D Mustang

Serial Number: 44-13371

Manufacturer: North American Aviation

Primary Function: Escort Fighter, Fighter-Bomber

Crew: One

Engines: One Packard-built Rolls-Royce Merlin V-1650-7; 1,695 hp

Wingspan: 37 ft

Length: 32 ft 3 in

Height: 8 ft 8 in

Weight: 6,585 lbs (empty); 11,054 lbs (maximum takeoff weight)

Speed: 275 mph (cruising); 437 mph (maximum)

Range: 1,000 miles

Service Ceiling: 42,000 feet

Armament: Six .50-caliber machine guns

Payload: Up to 2,000 lbs ordnance

Cost: $51,572 (average P-51 cost per unit as of 1944)

Years of Service: 1944 – 1957

The P-51D Mustang at Hill Air Force Base

During World War II, Hill Air Force Base’s engine repair shops maintained and overhauled the Packard-built engine in the P-51 aircraft until the end of the conflict. The base also performed maintenance and repair on the Mustang itself, even after the war and into the 1950s. In the demobilization that followed World War II, base personnel prepared and stored various P-51 variants and V-1650 engines for possible use in the future.

The P-51D on display was built using parts from multiple P-51s and placed on display at Hill Aerospace Museum in 1993. The serial number used for this plane was originally assigned to a P-51 lost during a mission over Europe in 1944. It was fabricated by Kal Aero, an aircraft restoration firm in California and was completed in 1992. The aircraft was painted to reflect the exact coloring of Colonel Chelsey Peterson’s P-51, the “Audrey,” named after his wife. Peterson flew with the 4th Fighter Group of the Eighth Air Force during World War II. Come see ours today!

Why was the P-51 Mustang so good?

The P-51’s range, speed, turn-radius, firepower and flight ceiling made it a formidable fighter. It particularly excelled during the European bombing war, where it escorted Allied bombers during their entire bombing run, something other Allied aircraft simply couldn’t do.

What company built the P-51 mustang?

The Mustang was built by North American Aviation from 1942 until the end of the war in 1945. In that time more than 15,000 were built, making it the most built fighter aircraft of all time.

How much horsepower does a P-51 Mustang have?

The P-51D utilized a Packard V-1650-7 Merlin 12-cylinder liquid cooled engine, producing 1,490hp.

What was the top speed of a P-51 mustang?

The Mustang could fly up to 440mph.

How many P-51 mustangs were built

A total of 15,567 P-51s were built.

How much ammo did a P-51 carry?

The Mustang carried a total of 1,840 rounds for its 6 .50 caliber M2 Browning machine guns.

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P-51 Video Short