Quote:
Originally Posted by Riceball
Anyone who knows anything about WW2 avation will know the P-51 and P-47 were among the most effective and deadly planes of the era. And don't give me the "P-51 is supposed to fight at high altitudes" crap. It could hold it's own in a phone booth.
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With a wing-loading of about 39 lbs per square foot, higher than yak-3 and almost as high as the bf109, I wouldn't count on a p51 to win a low-turn radius fight. You need low wing loading to stay mobile at low speed. Such as the Spitfire at about 24 lbs/ft^2, and the Zero at 22. Without low wing-loading, you need high thrust-to-weight to fight the planes that do. P51D had 0.18 hp/lb, same as the Zeros and among the lowest of all the fighters. How's that for knowing something?
P51 enjoyed a serious numerical advantage from the moment it entered service, and its primary role was escort and interception at high speed, and ground support, like it was designed for. That's where it got its kills and its reputation.