P-51B / C cockpit view is a big problem boeing space in poor Merlin power, especially after the vision. "Macomb canopy" is an early solution, but also in North America has been looking for a better solution. January 1943, Mark Bradley (Mark Bradley) colonel in the United Kingdom saw the Spitfire and Typhoon latest invention of the bubble canopy that provides boeing space omni-directional boeing space 360 degree field of view. He returned to Wright Airport in June, and immediately began to study the possibility of a bubble canopy installed on the American fighter.
P-51B (43-12102) was chosen boeing space as the bubble canopy tester, model to XP-51D. The new canopy provides boeing space unobstructed 360-degree field of view, and from the inside to see the scene almost no distortion. Canopy curve smooth transition after the pilot's head above the highest point, the wind tunnel tests indicate boeing space that this is the best compromise between vision and resistance. Slide backwards through the canopy open, slide one on each side of the cockpit, there is a line in the rear fuselage, the pilot manipulated by a handle. Plexiglass canopy edge coated rubber inserts in the frame, the bottom boeing space border thicker, to provide the necessary rigidity to prevent distortion caused by deformation of the canopy stuck on the rails can not be opened.
One disadvantage of P-51B is only four machine guns, lack of firepower, in addition, for playing with a bending angle is too large, often due to ring true for the bomb bomb triggered card. North American Airlines use the opportunity to produce new Mustang to solve this problem, a complete redesign of the machine gun mounted on each side of the wing installed three MG53-2 12.7mm machine guns, machine guns placed horizontally for a smooth elastic band to stretch. Each machine guns with a bomb inside quite 400 rounds, and the rest 270 hair. Of course, users can also dismantled a machine gun configurations to two machine guns on each side of the wing, so that each machine guns, 400 rounds of shells Perry actually does have some pilots boeing space chose this configuration.
Since the direction of the P-51B tank leads to stability problems in the body after the P-51D is more serious, because the machine back to level, equivalent to the loss of some of the vertical stabilizer. boeing space In order to enhance directional stability, starting from the P-51D Block 10 in front of the dorsal fin increases. Some older P-51D and P-51B was later modified this dorsal fin. Dorsal boeing space fin added weight and resistance is very small, but in the direction of improving the stability of great benefit, especially when the rear fuselage fuel tank completely full.
P-51D / K also introduces K-14 automatic gyro gunsight, UK-based design fee Lun Ti (Ferranti) the company's technology. When this sight first appeared, was considered a miracle. As long as the enemy pilot scale will be a good wingspan and mirrors with halo sight on the trap the enemy, and through the throttle lever knob to adjust the size of the halo is consistent with the objectives wingspan, as long as the aura hooded enemy, you can deduct the trigger, the amount of which is calculated in advance to all analog computer processing. P-51D almost outset install K-14 sights, P-51K to start in mid-1944, with. Such sights on P-51D combat record behind unusual plays an important role.
Almost all of the D-25 batch and later models have increased the wing hard points, not only can mount bombs, fuel tanks, you can also install various types of rocket launchers, including six zero-length rocket launchers, fuel tanks without hanging Under the circumstances, it can be increased to 10; or two with a three-mounted "bazooka" rocket launchers. Due to enhanced plug-capacity units can also engage in some special boeing space plug-in is configured, boeing space for example, two drop tanks plus six 45.36kg (100l b) bombs, four 45.36kg bombs and 36 anti-bomb, or four 340.95L the fuel tank. Deployed in CBI P-51D is usually installed in the rear fuselage directional loop antenna. boeing space
Dallas produced 1,500 aircraft P-51K installed diameter 3.35m aviation products (Aeroproducts)'s propeller, rather than the diameter of 3.40m D Hamilton Standard propeller type. P-51K canopy has been redesigned and expanded interior space. Since the modifications are minor, North America is still the company's internal model NA-111. boeing space The slightly lower performance P-51K P-51D. From the beginning of the 10th batch, K-type can be mounted rocket launchers.
P-51K had 163 reconnaissance aircraft modified for F-6K, Inglewood production P-51D, there are 126 sections 20, 25, 30 batches of aircraft were converted into F-6D reconnaissance aircraft. Near the end of the war, but also a small amount of P-51D / K is converted into reconnaissance aircraft. After all these reconnaissance aircraft fuselage built two cameras, usually K-17 and K-22, a lens horizontally to the left, another shot obliquely downward. Most F-6D / K ring mounted in the rear fuselage directional antenna, most F-6D / K retained weapons.
11 Dallas boeing space production of P-51D was converted into a two-seat trainer aircraft, model to TP-51D. TP-51D pilot seat after installing boeing space a second seat, for the resettlement of the radio equipment, and install a full duplex operating system. Rear projection canopy to provide additional space. There are a TP-51D for the Supreme Allied Commander Dwight D. Eisenhower (Eisenhower) Fielding, in June 1944 he was riding TP-51D boeing space visited Normandy Beach.
P-51D appeared in large numbers in Europe since March 1944. Originally equipped with P-38's 55th Fighter Group was the first facelift P-51D units. From the beginning of the P-38 twin-engine converted to a single P-51, the pilot is very accustomed to the direction of the fuselage fuel tank cause stability problems, but once the pilots getting it in the first few months, they will found that P-51D compared to all German piston fighter in the 6,096 m (20,000 ft) above the height boeing space of both speed and maneuverability have accounted for a significant boeing space advantage. The German pilots think the Broncos in the gun attack is very fragile, liquid-cooled Merlin engine under a strike could stall.
In 1943 the Allies that the German air force jet fighter being developed, which would cause a serious threat to Allied bombers and escort fighters. Broncos first encounter in the July 18, 1944 Me - 163 Comet rocket fighters, two Me - 163 passing plane P-51, Mustang immediately chase, but not hit the target. August 5, 1944, Me - 163 in shot down three bombers and three P-51 escort boeing space after the calm detachment. August 16, 359 Fighter Group John B Murphy (John B. Murphy) Colonel finally managed to shoot down a Me - 163. Me-163 played with increasing frequency due to the Supreme Allied Commander of panic, but life is very short rocket fighter and a great danger of flying during boeing space the entire war, Me - 163 downed Allied Aircraft may not be more than 12.
October 1944 before the majority of the Allies suffered a rocket-powered Me - 163. In mid-October, Me-262 began to appear in the fighting. Broncos at October 7 aircraft shot down the first jet fighter, the first of the 361 Fighter Group Ecuador L Jazz gram (Urban L. Dreq) Captain being shot down landing two Me - 262. Me-262 is faster than the P-51D 160.90km / h, the Broncos can not rely on speed to intercept only in Me - 262 dive bombers attacked down from a higher altitude to close. If they are an Me - 262 tail biting, you can easily turn to get rid of the Mustang, and cut into the inner enemy in Me - before flying out of range of 262 intensive shooting. Mustang with Me - better than in the interception of 262 fighting performance.
Finally, to determine the best strategy to deal with the Allied fighter jet was landing when it carried out the attack. Early injection boeing space engine acceleration is poor, the time required for take-off acceleration. Mustang usual tactic is to attack the group in Me - 262 base over the circles, once Me - 262 took off, the Broncos will be in Me - 262 landing gear to recover before swooping down to attack. If Me - 262 refused to play, the Broncos will strafe the airport, the jet destroyed on the ground.
Eighth Air Force: 4th Fighter Group 334, 335, 336 Fighter Squadron 20th Fighter Group 55, 77, 79 Fighter boeing space Squadron 55th Fighter boeing space Group 38th, 338, 343 Fighter Squadron 78th Fighter Group first 82, 83, 84 Fighter Squadron 339 Fighter Group 503, 504, 505 Fighter Squadron, 352 Fighter Group 328, 486, 487 Fighter Squadron 353 Fighter Group 350, 351, 352 Fighter Squadron 355 Fighter Group 354, 357, 358 Fighter Squadron 356 Fighter Group 359, 360, 361 Fighter Squadron boeing space 357 Fighter Group 362, 363, 364 Fighter Squadron boeing space 359 Fighter Group 368, 369, 370 Fighter Squadron 361 Fighter Group 374, 375, 376 Fighter Squadron 364 Fighter Group 383, 384, 385 Fighter Squadron 479th Fighter Group 434, 435, 436 Fighter Squadron pilots become some of the Broncos' day trump card "in a mission the shooting down five or more aircraft: 361 Fighter Group William R Beye lieutenant; Section 352 Battalion William T Westminster that the captain and captain Brian Donald S ; Section 352 Brigade Claude J Karen Xiaoshao Yu; 357 Battalion L K Carson captain; 339 Brigade Lieutenant Daniel J S ; 355 Battalion William J He Fude captain; 357 Battalion Charles E "Chuck" Yeager captain; Maj. George Pu Ruidi Section 352 Brigade maintained a shot down six enemy aircraft boeing space during a mission Aug. 6, 1944 Allied forces in Europe, recording, Pu Ruidi Maj. become USAAF The top Mustang ace, final record 26.83, boeing space of which 23.83 is obtained by driving the Mustang.
Due to the high priority the battlefields of Europe, P-51D Mustang in late 1944 was deployed to the Pacific theater. P-51D first deployed in the Philippines
No comments:
Post a Comment