Air Power Series>1:48 die-cast display model>P-51B>HA8501

General Background

The only difference between the North American P-51B and C variants was the B was built in Inglewood and the C in Dallas. The B variant first flew on May 5, 1943 and the C variant first flew on August 5, 1943. The B variant saw 1,988 built while the C variant saw 1,750 built. On December 1, 1943 the P-51B Mustang flew its first combat mission and in March 1944 provided bomber escort to Berlin.

The Aircraft

Don Gentile like some other great pilots was rejected by the U.S. Military so he joined the RCAF in Canada. Gentile was assigned to the No. 133 Eagle Squadron flying Spitfires. Eventually he transferred to the USAAF along with the rest of the Eagle Squadron. Gentile had scored 6.33 kills before converting to the P-51 and scoring another 15.5 aerial kills plus 6 ground victories.

Specifications :

Dimensions:
Length:	32.25 ft
Wingspan:	37.04 ft
Height:	13.67 ft
Weight
Empty:	6,985 lbs
Normal T/O:	9,800 lbs
Maximum Gross:	11,800 lbs
Performance
Power Plant:	1 X Packard (Rolls Royce) V-1650-3-7 producing 1,380 hp in the B variant and 1,490 hp in the C variant
Maximum Speed:	439 mph @ 25,000 ft
Service Ceiling:	41,800 ft
Range:	B – 1,180 miles
	C – 1,900 miles
Armament	4 x .50 cal machine guns with 1,260 rounds
	2 x 1,000 lb bombs or rockets