One of the most beautiful things man has ever made.

@WW2Wayfinder

Жыл бұрын

Couldn’t agree more. It’s a stunning aircraft. Thanks for watching!

One of the best P-51walkarounds already! I hope you can take a deeper look on more vehicles, weapons and other equipment in future videos.

@WW2Wayfinder

Жыл бұрын

Thank you! All in the pipeline, 3 more to come on the P-51 but I don’t want to give too much away just yet!

My Second cousin was a Captain of a B24 flying out of italy during WW2. He loved that fighter, they had drop tanks! All the better for them to stay next to his B24.

@WW2Wayfinder

Жыл бұрын

Wow! I bet when he saw the Mustangs off his wing it made him and his crew feel a lot better!

@Mark.G475

Жыл бұрын

@@WW2Wayfinder the Tuskegee airmen were right next to him in their Mustangs.

@warbirdcoffeecous

Жыл бұрын

@@Mark.G475they were some outstanding pilots!

@WW2Wayfinder

Жыл бұрын

Always reassuring to have those guys flying on your wing! They were exceptional pilots!

Best Fighter walk around I have ever seen. Great video

That was extremely impressive and informative. Thanks!

@WW2Wayfinder

Жыл бұрын

Thanks JD! Still three more episodes to come over the next few weeks. Such a fine aircraft and the owner is a great guy allowing me the access to it!

@TheHistoryUnderground

Жыл бұрын

@@WW2Wayfinder Looking forward to it. That was one of the most thorough but easy understand treatments of the P-51 that I’ve ever seen.

@WW2Wayfinder

Жыл бұрын

Thank you! It was a lot of fun to film and it’s such an iconic warbird it was an amazing experience!

My father had to bail out of his B model over the North Sea once and got caught on one of the rails of the 'greenhouse' canopy (he said the pilots called in a greenhouse.) But he made it as a Brit minesweeper saw him bail and came round to fetch him out of the drink. So, thanks for that!!! You also might mention that the nacelle on the fuselage just before the horizontal stabilizer was introduced when the Merlin engine was fitted. No Allison Mustangs had it. As a side note, I was born in Inglewood, CA.

@WW2Wayfinder

14 күн бұрын

Oh wow thank you for sharing that baout your Father! Which Fighter Group did he fly with? I've spent many years wandering most of the old USAAF Airfields in the UK and have always had a thing for the Fighter Groups.

@ChefDuane

14 күн бұрын

@@WW2Wayfinder 8th AF 352nd Fighter Group. He was a Blue Nose Bastard of Bodney. Flew with Preddy, JC Meyer, Whisner, Don Bryan... One of my bucket list things to do (I'm 65) is go to Norfolk and find Bodney. Been to the UK but never got outside of London.

@WW2Wayfinder

14 күн бұрын

Oh wow!!! It just so happens my favourite FG is the 352nd! And I’ve been to Bodney a few times but before I started the channel but I have plans to film there. I’m also looking to write a book on the 352nd, would it be ok when you have a few moments to drop me an email? My address is contactww2wayfinder@gmail.com Thanks, Jon

@ChefDuane

14 күн бұрын

@@WW2Wayfinder Yes, I can drop you an email later today... out running around. Its 1:30p here in Texas.

I had a see thru model kit of the Mustang back in the 60's when I was 12 or 14. It had a pedestal it was mounted to with buttons to make the engine run and you could retract and extend the landing gear. I learned a lot from your video. Thank you.

@WW2Wayfinder

7 ай бұрын

Oh cool! I love toys like that. I was always a big fan of the cutaway drawings of warbirds in books and magazines growing up as I spent hours going over each of the various components that made up the aircraft! Thanks for watching and glad you enjoyed it 😃

Well done.

@WW2Wayfinder

Жыл бұрын

Thank you!

Excellent video! Really informative thank you. Keep it up 🔥

@WW2Wayfinder

Жыл бұрын

Thank you! Glad you liked it

This is really clear and detailed. Thanks for this informative look at one of the most beautiful planes ever made.

@WW2Wayfinder

8 ай бұрын

Thank you! I love the Mustang so hope I did it justice. Thank you for watching!

Keep it coming!

@WW2Wayfinder

Жыл бұрын

Thank you sir! That’s very kind of you, your support means a lot!

One thing that nobody ever talks about is the gun sights on the Mustang. Oh- BTW, that’s you guys (British) for giving such great names to our aircraft!

@WW2Wayfinder

Жыл бұрын

Gun sight is in Part 3 😉 although I’m a bit specific with it as this was a late war Mustang. I thinks it’s great that the P-51 was a sort of joint venture, with it being a British request, an American design and a New Zealander that got the right engine into it.

@richardmardis2492

Жыл бұрын

@@WW2Wayfinder So very true 👍

Awesome mate as always. One of the best History accounts on KZread and a top bloke as well

@WW2Wayfinder

Жыл бұрын

Thanks bud. And likewise!

Very interesting. I really enjoy all your videos.

@WW2Wayfinder

10 ай бұрын

Thank you!

Thank you mate, this is brilliant.

@WW2Wayfinder

4 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it! The Mustang is an epic warbird!

Great walk-around learned alot

@WW2Wayfinder

10 ай бұрын

Thank you!

And now for something completely different . . . Great vid - I’m not an aeroplane guy, but this was a nice, simple explanation that I really enjoyed, cheers.

@WW2Wayfinder

5 ай бұрын

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it! The P-51 is a magnificent aircraft.

Keep going! You are doing great!

@WW2Wayfinder

Жыл бұрын

Thank you!

nicely done Juice sent me here this is my choice to learn DCS in

@WW2Wayfinder

7 ай бұрын

Oh nice! When I have time I fly Warbirds in DCS. The Spitfire and the Mustang are my favourites but currently trying to master the 109K and the Mossie!

Terrific video! Loved the details of this great warbird.

@WW2Wayfinder

Жыл бұрын

Thank you Charles! There’s 3 more episodes to come all about the P-51 and different elements of it over the next few weeks so I hope you enjoy those too!

@charlespapineau5428

Жыл бұрын

@WW2 Wayfinder You can count on it! I've read so much on the P51 and watched videos on it and am totally smitten. Chuck Yeager and Bud Anderson had so many great things to say about this awesome plane. Loved their insights. Keep up the good work!

@WW2Wayfinder

Жыл бұрын

I’ve had the pleasure of corresponding with General Bud Anderson and he’s a wonderful man and I would have loved to have spoken with Chuck Yeager, another incredible pilot.

@charlespapineau5428

Жыл бұрын

@WW2 Wayfinder That is awesome that you have corresponded with General Anderson. Please send him my thanks for his service to our country. I live in a suburb of Detroit, Michigan. I read General Yeager's autobiography. What an amazing man of valor and courage. I remember one of the members of his squadron said that everyone wanted to fly with him because he could see the Luftwaffe before anyone else due to his incredible eyesight. There are many incredible stories beyond his skill as a P51 pilot. Both he and General Anderson are to always be remembered as heroes and patriots.

@WW2Wayfinder

Жыл бұрын

He’s a wonderful man, and a true hero of mine, and it was so good to see him receive his recent promotion to Brigadier General!

Thank you so much.

@WW2Wayfinder

7 ай бұрын

You’re most welcome, thank you for watching 😃

Uno si no el mejor caza de la segunda guerra saludos desde Argentina gran canal informativo sobre el conflicto, y genial presentación de este clásico P-51 Mustang Americano

@WW2Wayfinder

6 ай бұрын

Thank you!

The one we had on long term loan at our museum was the only P-51 that still had all the original parts- it had never been overhauled and new replacement parts. Sure miss my museum- it was called the Chaplain Fighter Aircraft Museum.

@WW2Wayfinder

Жыл бұрын

Oh wow! I bet that was a stunning P-51!

@richardmardis2492

Жыл бұрын

@@WW2Wayfinder It was! In the WW2 hanger we had: BF-109E, Spitfire mark5, super Corsair, Yake 9, P-38, FW-190g, p-51d, T-6 “Texan”… Brain going numb, what else 🤔

@WW2Wayfinder

Жыл бұрын

Very nice! Some proper legends there

@richardmardis2492

Жыл бұрын

@@WW2Wayfinder All gone now- only the WW2 era hangers are still there.

@WW2Wayfinder

Жыл бұрын

Sad, but at least the hangars remain!

Great walkaround and design information even I (not a pilot) can understand.

@WW2Wayfinder

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Sondra, glad you enjoyed it! It was a lot of fun to film and always a real privilege to be around these amazing aircraft and think what those young men who flew them achieved!

Well done! I never knew about the “pee tube” (not the pitot tube) How come I was never told of that thing 🤣

@WW2Wayfinder

Жыл бұрын

It’s great it’s still fitted and hasn’t been removed. Gives a real authentic touch to the aircraft, I just hope it’s clean….!

@richardmardis2492

Жыл бұрын

@@WW2Wayfinder I was thinking the same🤣🤣🤣

And New Zealand is mentioned as well, nice one

@WW2Wayfinder

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Gavin, the Mustangs history really was a multinational effort in a lot of ways which I think is quite cool especially give. The job it did of helping to liberate Europe and beyond. I just wonder if Ron Harker could have know just how important his recommendation would become!

Leonard "Kit" Carson, one of the 8th AAF Mustang aces, became an aeronautical engineer after the war and worked at Wright Pat AFB. Carson stated that the Merlin engine was the greatest achievement in mechanical engineering in the first half of the 20th century. Other British inventions that helped make the P-51 great included the design and quantity production of the 108 gallon drop tank, both paper and metal, and the K-14 gyro lead computing gunsight.

@WW2Wayfinder

8 ай бұрын

The Merlin is truly a beautiful engine, regardless of variant. Yet the Griffon that was a development of it and was fitted in later Mk Spitfires just (for me at least) doesn’t have the same draw.

@lulubellers

5 ай бұрын

Kit was our nextdoor neighbor when we were kids. Yes, we called him Kit. 😊

Must get to see this aircraft.

@WW2Wayfinder

Жыл бұрын

It’s incredible!

Rumor has it the Louisiana Kid has to be fed Messerschmitt parts occasionally or it will just randomly dive on trains when out and about in Germany.

@WW2Wayfinder

Жыл бұрын

🤣🤣🤣

Great walk around! Where’s that jacket from, sir🔥

@WW2Wayfinder

5 ай бұрын

Thank you! The jacket is from a company called Buzz Rickson, however I got this one second hand via eBay as the prices they charge for a brand new one are insanely high so I got lucky with this one! I also have another from a company called Bronson Mfg and theirs are equally as nice and a fraction of the price!

@elliotwhite5230

5 ай бұрын

Awesome! Thank you for this!

3.52 RR Hucknall, Nottinghamshire is where the Merlin was married to the P51. It's also where the Pegasus VTOL was developed. - I grew up listening to them testing jets - RB211s(?) outside on summer days too. Awful racket. I believe it's also the place where an escaped Luftwaffe POW tried to steal a plane and fly home. When they had 'fly-ins' I used to go up there and stand on the runway threshold - I remember watching a P51 come in almost close enough to touch. Marvellous.

The irony of a German owning a P-51 that was probably used against his grandfathers generation in combat is......ironic.

@WW2Wayfinder

Жыл бұрын

He also flew a restored BF-109 (Red 7 now owned and operated by Airbus DE). He much prefers the Mustang!

@danielferrell1867

Жыл бұрын

Idk I’m American and I’d love to own a Fw190

@WW2Wayfinder

Жыл бұрын

Now the 190 is a GOOD looking warbird so I’m with you on that! I think one recently flew with a genuine BMW engine up front too which is amazing.

@afb911

4 ай бұрын

It's history, but it was also 80 years ago... Get over it !

@ivanlowjones

4 ай бұрын

@@afb911 Make me🤨

Great job at reviewing P-51. I was wondering what circle on port side? Then you answered question of use for lifting plane up on starboard side. Considering this plane, what caused two large drips on ground under plane down from rear cockpit? This outside walk around answered several question for me? Pee hole in back was answered. Locking rear wheel mechanisms controlled by rear movement of stick was new for me. an locking system on clamshell wheel covers was answered. Waiting to see inside cockpit review! Great job! This is my favorite plane. There was a group of famous artist asked to select "most pleasing sharp of anything conceived by man"? After months of study, study group choose P-51 Mustang fighter plane. I personally think they had great choice, maybe even second place under the human female!

@WW2Wayfinder

Жыл бұрын

I think the drops Tim on the pan underneath the aircraft were water. It wasn’t fluid from the aircraft systems (fortunately!)

@timbarnett3898

Жыл бұрын

Thanks! I was hoping it was moisture condensed off metal etc.. I'm very interested to see your cockpit controls vid. Also would be so cool to have a ground crew veteran in vid to go through steps in refueling an rearming! I'll tell you, first time I saw this plane I was under guard from jeep, looking down barrel of 50cal pointed right at me, meaning business!!! Spit was there too! Air show on Air Force base didn't start till next day! Oops!

@WW2Wayfinder

Жыл бұрын

Haha sounds like the MPs were on the ball that day! 😂 I should have had Wilhelm talk through some aspects as he does all the maintenance on the aircraft himself along with his son. A really talented individual, and true gentleman!

Tally Ho! Great vid. Five stars! *****

@WW2Wayfinder

11 ай бұрын

Thank you!!!

Just to add: The P-51 had long legs primarily due to the Laminar Flow wings, which reduced drag with a more efficient wing, increased range and gave the P-51 a tighter turning radius, and prevented control surface freeze, or compressibility, at high speed like its contemporaries. The cockpit was also a pilot’s cockpit and well laid out. My father was part of the P-51D program at Mines Field during the war, dealing with Lee Atwood and flying in “Dutch” Kindelberger’s B-25 NA 40-2165 with Tex LaGrone before it was crashed by another pilot. He would always rave about that laminar flow wing. He said they didn’t get if perfect but they got it good enough. The Eighth Air Force daylight raids to Berlin were meant to help satisfy the goals of Operation Pointblank: bring the Luftwaffe up to the P-51’s and kill it. They also took out Me 262’s, that were not in the landing pattern, by going to full military power and maneuvering, there is gun camera footage out there showing a couple of these encounters. Maneuverability was amazing, if you knew the airplane. You could almost stop it flat, belly against your direction of flight, by reversing rudder and ailerons and pulling the stick into your gut, somewhat like a Cobra maneuver with the airplane sideways on an angle. Like the Fifth Generation fighter in the recent Top Gun movie. It would stall out and correct easily and the pursuer was gone. Although a dangerous maneuver a lot better than a Split S for evasion. A modified version of the Mustang saw limited combat in Vietnam, used against ground targets of course.

@anonymous8780

5 ай бұрын

I've heard the opposite regarding turn performance. Laminar flow wing gives less lift in a turn and the P-51 had a relatively violent accelerated stall and it did not give much warning compared to something like a Spitfire. But that being said the Mustang was no slouch in a dogfight and could mix it up with Bf 109s and Fw 190s.

Not your everyday walkaround! Detailed, informative. Thanks for that. By the way... where did you get the B-10 jacket? fit is spot on and looks like a decent repro.

@WW2Wayfinder

Жыл бұрын

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it! The B-10 is a Buzz Rickson one that I found going cheap on eBay a few years back. It’s a great jacket and I wear it a lot in autumn, winter but wouldn’t pay for a new one given the huge price tags! I got really lucky with finding this one!!!

@ikzelf636

Жыл бұрын

​@@WW2Wayfinder That explains! BR makes some fine repro USAAF and Navy jackets but overpriced indeed. Wife would tell me I own too many flight jackets already 🙂 Great find, great jacket, enjoy! Thanks a lot for the reply.

Just for history....who was that Guy from New Zealand that replaced the Allison with a Merlin?

@WW2Wayfinder

Жыл бұрын

Andy, his name was Rob Harker, working for Rolls-Royce at Hucknall in Nottinghamshire England. Thanks for watching!

@andywilkerson4617

Жыл бұрын

@@WW2Wayfinder Much appreciated for the information. I want to know from his perspective why he made a radical departure from the conventional plane that made such an impact on history.

Off on a slight tangent here, but who makes that lovely jacket that you’re wearing? Very cool.

@WW2Wayfinder

11 ай бұрын

It’s made by a Japanese company called Buzz Ricksons (after the character played by Steve McQueen in The War Lover film. It’s a B-10 that I got cheap from eBay and it’s lovely and warm and more comfortable than the A2 jacket that preceded it.

@waynekerr5645

11 ай бұрын

Thanks 👍

Came to you from “ the history underground “

@WW2Wayfinder

Жыл бұрын

Thank you! Hope you like the channel and the content 😃

The question I've always had is why did they not cover the rudder with aluminum as well? Great walk around. The moisture under the scoop is probably from the dampness of the area causing dew which rolls out of the aircraft. Looks like a damp day and the plane probably spent the night in a nice warm dry hangar. Like backing your car out from a garage in the Fall.

@WW2Wayfinder

Жыл бұрын

I think it was due to flutter for the elevators vs the rudder - but, I’m speculating on that. I did read the reason somewhere but it escapes me now! Thanks for watching and next weeks is all about the equipment worn by USAAF fighter pilots so hope you enjoy that too!

@waltermengden8927

Жыл бұрын

Lighter weight, easy to mass produce and cost less. As speeds and forces increased, the trade off moved to favor metal.

@thethirdman225

2 ай бұрын

@@waltermengden8927 Also more feel.

Cool! Looking! But the P 38 lightning is better looking and unfortunately was not good in cold weather. Cheers from Milwaukee 🇺🇲

@warbirdcoffeecous

Жыл бұрын

A better gun platform too having them all seated in the nose!

Make a rigger/sumpy out of you yet ;)

@WW2Wayfinder

Жыл бұрын

Doubtful mate, my knuckles don’t scrape the floor that badly 😉🤣

Am 22.04.2023 bin ich mit der Louisiana Kid mit gefolgen. Es war der Pure Wahnsinn.

@WW2Wayfinder

Жыл бұрын

Fantastic!!! It’s a stunning aircraft isn’t it?!

@streetfighter5093

Жыл бұрын

@@WW2Wayfinder Habe ich mir zu meinen 30 Geburtstag gewünscht. Mit meine Papa und Zwei reunden jeweils um eine Kasten Bier gewettet . Dann sogar Gewonnen. Das war der Rit meines Lebens. Die Wettte War ob ich einen G-loc habe. Oder es mir noch mal Durch den Kopf geht. Ist beidrs nicht Passiert

6:47 -> Is that true?

@WW2Wayfinder

6 ай бұрын

Very much so, it’s a well known characteristic of the P-51!

I dont think personally its the best ! its damn good for sure and only thanks to the Brits, by putting in a merlin otherwise it was the crappy Allison.

@WW2Wayfinder

3 ай бұрын

My first warbird love will always be the Spitfire, I think that’s hard wired into me but technically the Mustang was a huge leap forward. Interested to hear what you’d rank as the best then, just out of curiosity! 😃

@nickdanger3802

2 ай бұрын

Mustangs for the RAF (P-51A) kzread.info/dash/bejne/p6eluMGzhdOtc9Y.html

The greatest warbird was the Hawker Hurricane.

@WW2Wayfinder

2 ай бұрын

It was good during the BoB but after that the RAF reducing it to roles that it was better suited to such as night fighter, ground attack and eventually sending most to the Middle East and Far East to go up against aircraft it was better suited to as it couldn’t match later 109’s and certainly couldn’t match the Fw190 tells you everything you need to know about the Hurricane by the time 1941 rolled around. It was good when it was needed, then technology moved on and it was bested but newer aircraft.

The F-6 Hellcat, and F-4 Corsair would like to have words with you. Honestly the same country having 3 legitimate GOAT candidates is a nice problem to have. Not to mention also having the P-38 Lightning and P-47 Thunderbolt blasting Hitler and Tojo’s shit to pieces.

@thethirdman225

2 ай бұрын

Only the F6F could seriously be considered.

🦾👀 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

@WW2Wayfinder

Жыл бұрын

100%!

BS. The best aircraft of WW2.was the TA 152 a variant of the FW190. Faster , higher ceiling and better armed than the 51.

@WW2Wayfinder

2 ай бұрын

Bigger and better numbers doesn’t equate to it being a better aircraft. Or did the TA 152 turn the tide of the air war in the Luftwaffe’s favour in the west and keep the USAAF and RAF outside of German airspace?

@twolak1972

2 ай бұрын

@@WW2Wayfinder That doesn't keep it from being the best. That's like saying the F22 isn't the greatest warplane ever devised simply because it has never been truly tested because other countries are so afraid of it. DUMB ASS

@nickdanger3802

2 ай бұрын

@@twolak1972 Not cool.

@thethirdman225

2 ай бұрын

Oh yes because it achieved so much… You need to do more research.