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Took flying lessons back in 1965 and always wanted to ride a P-51. My instructor did take me up in his Steerman one afternoon and the prop blast in your face is out of this world. Radial cylinder engines have a special place in my heart after that. A ride in a P-51 on July 4th has got to be a great way to have fun.
I think the Mustang has the edge on weight to horsepower.....'course it's gettin high octane leaded in its feedbag .......
And probably has a Super(charged) Merlin under its hood...The P-51 and the Marine F-4U Corsair are my favorite Warbirds. Then the Spit and the ME-109. Simply gorgeous--and very lethal, planes. And what great heroes--on both sides, flew them.
Packard re-engineered and built the Rolls Royce Merlin engine under license in Detroit. And when it was put in the P51 it became best of the prop fighters.
I have a friend that has a P51, and I get a Woodie everytime I hear it fire up. But, talk about a money pit. I think you could fly a twin jet cheaper.
You're probably right. I heard a P-51 owner remark once that "When you own a plane built to operate at the governments expense, you get a whole new respect for the dollar".
07-04-2007, 02:44 PM
Happy 4th!
Don't ever say that to an old P-47 driver! 
But, talk about a money pit. I think you could fly a twin jet cheaper.
