ST0RM Posted January 23, 2017 Posted January 23, 2017 Have there been any weapon mods to allow modern rocket pods to be carried by the P-51? I saw a YouTube video of a guy using the Mustang in place of a Skyraider and thought it would benefit from something like that. Thanks in advance. -Jeff
Hawkeye60 Posted January 23, 2017 Posted January 23, 2017 Have there been any weapon mods to allow modern rocket pods to be carried by the P-51? I saw a YouTube video of a guy using the Mustang in place of a Skyraider and thought it would benefit from something like that. Interesting! If this was done in real life, I will look into it. I need to check for data to back this up...... "Yeah, and though I work in the valley of Death, I will fear no Evil. For where there is one, there is always three. I preparest my aircraft to receive the Iron that will be delivered in the presence of my enemies. Thy ALCM and JDAM they comfort me. Power was given unto the aircrew to make peace upon the world by way of the sword. And when the call went out, Behold the "Sword of Stealth". And his name was Death. And Hell followed him. For the day of wrath has come and no mercy shall be given."
ST0RM Posted January 23, 2017 Author Posted January 23, 2017 The Cavalier Mustangs were cleared for many modern weapons (for their time). Additionally, the South American operators were rumored to wire up whatever was on hand. Thanks for the interest Hawkeye. -Jeff
Hawkeye60 Posted January 23, 2017 Posted January 23, 2017 The dorsal fin was added during the P-51D-10NA and later versions at the factory. Many other P-51s received this mod in the field. Look on this page, there is a wartime pic of a -5 model with the dorsal fin. Metal elevators were added in February 1945. The P-51D continued to have a fabric rudder. The -25 blocks and later were fitted with attachment points for various forms of rockets and rocket launchers. P-51 Variants Variants XP-51s RAF A-36 P-51A P-51B P-51C P-51D P-51K P-51H CA-17/18 Cavalier Racers Sources The P-51K Mustang P-51K-10NT_18t.jpg P-51K-10NT_1t.jpg P-51K-10NT_2t.jpg P-51K-10NT_3t.jpg P-51K-10NT_4t.jpg P-51K-5NT_11t.jpg P-51K_22t.jpg The P-51K Mustang was essentially a P-51D with a different propeller. With war production at max capacity in Inglewood, NAA added P-51 production at their Dallas Texas plant starting with the P-51B. The new designation of the B models built in Dallas was P-51C. When the P-51D began production, once again the Dallas plant was needed. Unlike the B models, when the D models were built in Dallas, their designation of "D" was kept. They were identified as built from the Dallas plant with the "NT" suffix. So a -5 block of a D model Mustang built in Dallas would be a P-51D-5NT. These were identical to a P-51D-5NA, built in Inglewood, Ca. The propeller of NAA's choice was the Hamilton Standard 4-blade version used on the B, C and D models. Wartime production of these props from Hamilton Standard were not keeping up with demand and a suitable replacement was needed. Aeroproducts was contracted to supply the Dallas plant with their 4-blade 11' diameter hollow steel propeller. All P-51K versions used this prop. The Aeroproducts propeller was generally not favorable to most crew chiefs and many props were not balanced well. Even so, they did the job at the time. The K model was able to get into the action instead of waiting on the line for more supplies from Hamilton Standard. The Aeroproducts props are easily identified by the different blade shape. There are no cuffs like the Hamilton Standard. The blade gradually widens towards the center of the length and then is narrower out at the rounded tip. During the war, it was common to find a K model with a Hamilton Standard. In the field, such replacements of props and even engines were done with supplies on hand. Some K model Merlins (-7) were replaced with the older -3 version. Supplies on hand. With a Hamilton Standard prop on a K model, you would not be able to tell the difference between that K model and the D unless you read the placard. The later version of the Hamilton Standard, sometimes called the "paddle blade" did not have the cuffs and had a fat squared tip. The standard cuffed version had a rounded tip. There have been some that say that the K model canopy was different, but that has been disputed many times. More than once, I've thought some of the K canopies looked different, but it was explained to me that it was just a different mill run from the manufacturer, not a planned or designed difference. Others have told me (and I've read it somewhere) that they were different. The P-51K production numbers are as follows: (all NA-111) 200 P-51K-1NT, 400 P-51K-5NT, 600 P-51K-10NT, 200 P-51K-15NT and 100 P-51K-15NT. 163 of the K models were modified for the recon version, the F-6K. The count for the F-6K was: 57 F6K-5NT, 63 F6K-10NT and 43 F6K-15NT. Specifications Model P-51D / P-51K Production 8,102 / 1,500 Length 32.25 Height 13.67 Wingspan 37.04 Weight - empty 7,635 Weight - normal T.O. 10,100 Weight - max G.W. 12,100 Powerplant Packard (Rolls Royce) V-1650-7 Horsepower 1,490 Propeller - Hamilton Standard 11'2" 4-blade (D) Aeroproducts 11'0" 4-blade (K) Max Speed 437 at 25k Service Ceiling 41,780 feet Fuel Capacity 269 Drop Tanks 2x 75 or 2x 108 Range 1,180 and 1,900 w/DT Armament 6x .50 cal. - 1880 rounds (2) 1,000 lb bombs or rockets Stay tuned................:music_whistling: 1 "Yeah, and though I work in the valley of Death, I will fear no Evil. For where there is one, there is always three. I preparest my aircraft to receive the Iron that will be delivered in the presence of my enemies. Thy ALCM and JDAM they comfort me. Power was given unto the aircrew to make peace upon the world by way of the sword. And when the call went out, Behold the "Sword of Stealth". And his name was Death. And Hell followed him. For the day of wrath has come and no mercy shall be given."
Hawkeye60 Posted January 23, 2017 Posted January 23, 2017 (edited) Deleted Moved to own thread Edited January 23, 2017 by Hawkeye60 "Yeah, and though I work in the valley of Death, I will fear no Evil. For where there is one, there is always three. I preparest my aircraft to receive the Iron that will be delivered in the presence of my enemies. Thy ALCM and JDAM they comfort me. Power was given unto the aircrew to make peace upon the world by way of the sword. And when the call went out, Behold the "Sword of Stealth". And his name was Death. And Hell followed him. For the day of wrath has come and no mercy shall be given."
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