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Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: billt on March 02, 2011, 05:49:31 PM

Title: 360 Degree Cockpit View Of A P-51 Mustang (Hi-Res)
Post by: billt on March 02, 2011, 05:49:31 PM
http://www.stclairphoto-imaging.com/360/P51-Mustang/P51_swf.html

Take off power 3,000 RPM @ 61 INCHES of Manifold Pressure!

Maximum Dive Speed 505 MPH !
Title: Re: 360 Degree Cockpit View Of A P-51 Mustang (Hi-Res)
Post by: twyacht on March 02, 2011, 07:23:23 PM
That it truly one "stick" between your legs, for a piston driven aircraft, that will never be copied.



Why they were the "Cadillac Of The Sky".



Title: Re: 360 Degree Cockpit View Of A P-51 Mustang (Hi-Res)
Post by: Dakotaranger on March 02, 2011, 11:16:10 PM
That is way too cool
Title: Re: 360 Degree Cockpit View Of A P-51 Mustang (Hi-Res)
Post by: fightingquaker13 on March 03, 2011, 02:18:10 AM
Very cool. It does make me wonder. Why did we have to wait for the Israelis with their version of the F-16 to come up with the idea of putting in rear view mirrors in a fighter plane? ???
FQ13
Title: Re: 360 Degree Cockpit View Of A P-51 Mustang (Hi-Res)
Post by: alfsauve on March 03, 2011, 05:26:41 AM
Very cool. It does make me wonder. Why did we have to wait for the Israelis with their version of the F-16 to come up with the idea of putting in rear view mirrors in a fighter plane? ???
FQ13

Didn't part of it had to do with vibration in piston driven planes making the mirrors hard to be use.


In Sarasota in the 60's there was a factory on the airport property that took P-51s and retro fitted them with turbine engines.  No where near as impressive sounding and it made it almost impossible to flip them on the ground.  It did however significantly decrease their weight and hence increase the maneuverability.
Title: Re: 360 Degree Cockpit View Of A P-51 Mustang (Hi-Res)
Post by: jnevis on March 03, 2011, 06:05:51 PM
Very cool. It does make me wonder. Why did we have to wait for the Israelis with their version of the F-16 to come up with the idea of putting in rear view mirrors in a fighter plane? ???
FQ13

Most fighters have a "rear view mirror" and have for a LONG time.  That was a P-51A/B, the D and beyond had a small mirror between the two forward canopy struts.
(http://www.funny-potato.com/images/planes/cockpits/p51-mustang.jpg)
Title: Re: 360 Degree Cockpit View Of A P-51 Mustang (Hi-Res)
Post by: kilopaparomeo on March 04, 2011, 06:25:32 AM
My favorite part of that is the vice grips being used as a handle just to the right of the seat.  $2M aircraft and he's using vice grips.  Love it.
Title: Re: 360 Degree Cockpit View Of A P-51 Mustang (Hi-Res)
Post by: alfsauve on March 04, 2011, 06:44:29 AM
My favorite part of that is the vice grips being used as a handle just to the right of the seat.  $2M aircraft and he's using vice grips.  Love it.

And you are implying that those are "cheap" ordinary, over-the-counter, Vice Grips?   Surely, those were procured through appropriate government buying process at a reasonable $35,000ea  (or through surplus auction at $0.35ea)

Title: Re: 360 Degree Cockpit View Of A P-51 Mustang (Hi-Res)
Post by: billt on March 07, 2011, 02:21:28 AM
I like the Preoiler. I wish automobile engines had that. Especially diesels. It would really add to the engines life.  Bill T.
Title: Re: 360 Degree Cockpit View Of A P-51 Mustang (Hi-Res)
Post by: billt on March 07, 2011, 04:51:11 PM
You would think for all of that money along with the craftsmanship that went along with it they could of gone with a more comfortable seat. I want Melanie to rub my butt and back just looking at that thing!  Bill T.
Title: Re: 360 Degree Cockpit View Of A P-51 Mustang (Hi-Res)
Post by: Solus on March 07, 2011, 05:32:18 PM
You would think for all of that money along with the craftsmanship that went along with it they could of gone with a more comfortable seat. I want Melanie to rub my butt and back just looking at that thing!  Bill T.


+1. Bill  ..........snicker
Title: Re: 360 Degree Cockpit View Of A P-51 Mustang (Hi-Res)
Post by: tombogan03884 on March 07, 2011, 06:11:17 PM
Remember, the parachute acted as a seat cushion.
Other wise it would have been like sitting in one of those plastic waiting room chairs for up to 6 hours.
Title: Re: 360 Degree Cockpit View Of A P-51 Mustang (Hi-Res)
Post by: Timothy on March 07, 2011, 06:43:03 PM
Remember, the parachute acted as a seat cushion.
Other wise it would have been like sitting in one of those plastic waiting room chairs for up to 6 hours.

Haven't viewed the video but I've seen the Mustangs cockpit from an airshow years ago.  

One flight from Keflavik to McGuire AFB, I flew on a C-141 on the paratrooper bench accompanied by a jet engine in the cargo bay and my hungover room mate occupying the head for most of the flight...other than Barry and I, there was only the crew on board.

13 hours in the air but the price was right!

 ::)
Title: Re: 360 Degree Cockpit View Of A P-51 Mustang (Hi-Res)
Post by: Solus on March 07, 2011, 06:47:41 PM

Haven't viewed the video


Should look at it.  The video technology, 360 view with zoom, is as impressive as the aircraft
Title: Re: 360 Degree Cockpit View Of A P-51 Mustang (Hi-Res)
Post by: Timothy on March 07, 2011, 07:03:54 PM
Cool!

To think we almost never used it.  Originally used by the RAF but was terrible at altitude.  It wasn't until 1945, outfit with a different engine, that she could fly with the bombers as escort fighters.  Could escort from GB all the way to Munich and back after the upgrade.

History ran a special just the other day...
Title: Re: 360 Degree Cockpit View Of A P-51 Mustang (Hi-Res)
Post by: jnevis on March 07, 2011, 07:09:46 PM
10 Hours on an ejection seat from Hawaii to San Deigo is my longest.  Talk about NUMB!!  Hanging on the wing of a KC-130 the whole way to get gas.  Moved off every so often to safe the seats and let someone stretch.
What it looks like from the back getting gas from another Hoover:
(http://navyphotos.togetherweserved.com/92663.jpg)(http://navyphotos.togetherweserved.com/300448.jpg)

Longest other flight was a 13.5 our go from Anchorage to Misawa Japan in Feb, at night.  Much more comfortable seat (not by much though) and I could get up and move around as long as I stayed on headset.  With a 40' cord I could be on anywhere in the plane ;D
Title: Re: 360 Degree Cockpit View Of A P-51 Mustang (Hi-Res)
Post by: Timothy on March 07, 2011, 07:22:35 PM
Jnevis,

Answer me this question if you can.  When I flew to Kef from Norfolk, the trip was about 7 hours on the MAC flight.  Why did the return flight take nearly twice as long?  Is the jetstream that influential at altitude?  It's my understanding that the C141 could easily cruise at 450 knots.  Figure roughly 3000 miles give or take.
Title: Re: 360 Degree Cockpit View Of A P-51 Mustang (Hi-Res)
Post by: jnevis on March 07, 2011, 07:30:17 PM
Jnevis,

Answer me this question if you can.  When I flew to Kef from Norfolk, the trip was about 7 hours on the MAC flight.  Why did the return flight take nearly twice as long?  Is the jetstream that influential at altitude?  It's my understanding that the C141 could easily cruise at 450 knots.  Figure roughly 3000 miles give or take.

Upper level winds will kick your A$$.  Airspeed may be 300Kts but ground speed can be MUCH lower, say 250Kts in a direct headwind but 350Kts in a tailwind.  Jet stream can be over 150Kts at times.

Current plot:
(http://images.intellicast.com/WxImages/JetStream/conus.jpg)
Title: Re: 360 Degree Cockpit View Of A P-51 Mustang (Hi-Res)
Post by: billt on March 08, 2011, 01:22:04 AM
Remember, the parachute acted as a seat cushion.
Other wise it would have been like sitting in one of those plastic waiting room chairs for up to 6 hours.

Do you speak of the actual "Waiting Room" or what is now known as the "Pre Waiting Room"? There is a difference. Now you have 2.
In years gone by you were taken from the actual "Waiting Room" to the Examining Room where the doctor was all but there ready to examine you with charts in hand.

Today you are taken from the "Pre Waiting Room" into the "Secondary Waiting Room", (Examining Room), where the second half of your wait begins. The difference here is no windows, magazines, or other people to complain with or to as to how long your actual "wait" is. Then, finally, much like the right woman, your doctor finally strolls in from God knows where. (Most likely from another "Secondary Waiting Room".

If we could recover lost time from Pre, and Secondary Waiting Rooms, we would have much the same value as if we could recover all the taxpayer money the government has wasted.  Bill T.
Title: Re: 360 Degree Cockpit View Of A P-51 Mustang (Hi-Res)
Post by: tombogan03884 on March 08, 2011, 09:14:50 AM
Bill, I'm referring to the one with the hard plastic chairs, not the one with the cold exam table and no azz in the gown  ;D