How fast was the P51 Mustang during WW2 ? Saw this image a few days ago,and i did'nt know they were pushing 600 mph. I know they were going a tad over 430 mph, but could not find anything to confirm even with the Merlin engine fitted that they were reaching the above mentioned speed. (during WW2) not post war. Any thought's ? Graham.
No -excluding early jets, then the P51 Mustang was fast, long range and nimble, but the Tempest was probably the most numerous of the fastest WW2 piston aircraft, although several pilots believed the P47 Thunderbolt could DIVE at 700 mph (often without pulling out of the dive!). The Allies had quite a difficult time coping with the 400 mph ish speed of the V1 in level flight and undeviating course, Spitfires needing to dive, Mosquito's and Mustangs also close to their maximum clean top speed to try and intercept. The advantage the Mustang had was that it was fast at low, medium and high altitudes, whereas most other aircraft were configured for top speed at only one altitude.
Found this image earlier, but it doesn't state weather the aircraft was on a straight level flight path, or a steep dive with the aid of gravity. Graham.
The Mustangs were used in Burma as supplementary artillery. On Chindit 2 they were called in to dive bomb Japanese positions at very close range to the Chindits themselves. This became an effective way to support troops where no field artillery pieces could be taken.
In the context of WW2 it would appear to have a speed of approx 440 mph. Many aircraft during the war were faster than their operational speed in a dive. Pilots during World War II sometimes claimed to have reached supersonic speeds in propeller-driven fighters during emergency dives, but these speeds are not included as accepted records. Neither are speeds recorded in a dive during high-speed tests with the Supermarine Spitfire, including Squadron Leader J.R. Tobin's 606mph (975 km/h, Mach 0.89) in a 45° dive in a Mark XI Spitfire (date unknown) and Squadron Leader Anthony F. Martindale's breaking 620mph (998 km/h, Mach 0.92) in the same aircraft in April 1944.[2] Flight Lieutenant Edward Powles' 690 mph (1110 km/h, Mach 0.96) in Spitfire PR.XIX PS852 during an emergency dive while carrying out spying flights over China on 5 February, 1952 is also discounted. This would otherwise be the highest speed ever recorded for a piston-engined aircraft.[3] Fastest propeller-driven aircraft - Wikipedia Dive speeds discussed here Dive limits The below is from the people who fly the aircraft for the Warbirds mostly WW2 P51D http://courtesyaircraft.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/images_aircraft_profiles_P-51_2.pdf stating ave speed of 437 mph
Graham - the first three aircraft in your list are rocket or jet propelled. The P51H was a redesign which DID have a faster speed than the P51D BUT never saw Active Service, nor did the Tempest Mk VI (the Mk V was the one used against V-1's). The Spitfire Mk XIV was fast, but I believe the Tempest Mk V could go faster. The fastest piston engined WW2 plane is generally accepted as the twin engined Do335 Pfeil, but came too late to do much to repair the damage done by P51's accompanying USAAF bombers throughout their missions over Germany. The Mustang probably was the single greatest contributor to the Germans losing air superiority with it's ability to fly fast at most altitudes faster than the opposition, more agile and hard hitting.
cheers Kev, Yes, I posted that list as one of the many I have seen for comparison. But I couldn't find anything to confirm the P51 Mustang was pushing close to 600mph as in post 1. regards........Graham.
I think the P-47M was about as fast as production prop fighters got in WWII. America’s P-47M Fighter Had One Goal: To Hunt Down and Kill Hitler's Jets
