Specifications

DCS
[P-51D Mustang]
100
FLIGHT CHARACTERISTICS
FLIGHT CHARACTERISTICS
General Characteristics
The P-51D is generally a very well-handling aircraft. It is very light on all of the controls and stable at
all normal loadings. Light, steady pressure on the controls is sufficient to execute any routine
maneuver. At various speeds in level flight or in climbing or diving, the control pressures required are
slight and can be stabilized by adjustments on the trim tabs. However, the trim control tabs
themselves are sensitive and require careful adjustments. The rudder and the elevator trim change
slightly as the speed or the power output of the engine changes.
The aircraft has a redline speed of 505 knots Indicated Airspeed (IAS), with a maximum diving
engine RPM of 3240. Extra caution should be used not to attempt steep dives at low altitudes as the
aircraft accelerates very rapidly.
The aircraft is susceptible to high speed stalls, but not any more so than any other high speed
aircraft. A buffeting of the tail section occurs about 5 to 10 MPH above the stall. All that is necessary
to recover from a high speed stall is to release the back pressure on the stick and then recovery is
almost instantaneous.
Recovery from a normal stall is the same. The buffeting, however, occurs at about 3 to 5 miles per
hour above the stall.
The aircraft is generally normal in its flying characteristics. When trimmed for normal cruising speed,
the aircraft will become nose-heavy when the nose is raised and the airspeed drops. Under the same
cruising conditions, if the nose is lowered and the airspeed increases, the aircraft will become tail
heavy in direct proportion to the airspeed.
When you lower the flaps, the airplane becomes nose heavy.
When you raise the flaps, the airplane becomes tail heavy.
When you retract the landing gear, the airplane becomes tail heavy.