The North American P-51 Mustang. To anyone who is an aviation enthusiast, nothing more really needs to be said. If you’re not familiar with the P-51, here’s a few talking points. Some say the Mustang single-handedly changed the tide of WWII in favor of the Allies. Developed in just ~170 days drawing board to production, the Mustang gave the USAF the ability to escort heavy bomber raids during daylight hours deep into Nazi Germany increasing bombing accuracy which helped put down the Nazi industrial machine that was producing its war machines. This had a devastating affect on replacement aircraft lost to war attrition including the fighters such as the Focke-Wolfe 190 that were tasked with defending Germany from the Allied bomber’s new onslaught.
“Betty Jane!” is a rare P-51C model recognizable by the church-window canopy. The Mustang’s sleek design, laminar flow wing (a first), and it’s bubble canopy (D-model) all made it what was in my opinion, the best fighter of the War. Once fitted with the Rolls-Royce Merlin engine (beginning with the B&C models) that replaced the Allison engine that had poor high-altitude performance, the P-51’s power/speed at high altitudes became unrivaled. The P-51 is credited with the most air to air combat victories of WWII. Beyond those impressive attributes, in my opinion, the P-51’s beauty is second to none in the War Birds Class.
To learn more about the iconic P-51 Mustang, visit the P-51’s Wikipedia Page.
This photograph was taken at a static display at the Deer Valley Airport in Phoenix, Arizona. This is a rare P-51C named “Betty Jane” which flies with the Collings Foundation.
BETTY JANE!
View the full “WINGS” Gallery.
IMAGE INFO:
BETTY JANE! P-51, WINGS
Camera: Canon EOS 20D
Lens: 17-35mm
Film: n/a