Specifications

[P-51D Mustang]
DCS
EAGLE DYNAMICS
111
To avoid compressibility effects in a dive, it’s critical that a dive is entered at a safe airspeed for the
altitude and that airspeed is monitored carefully during the dive. The table below indicates safe dive
start airspeeds for different altitudes in both True Airspeed (TAS) and Indicated Airspeed (IAS).
Figure 90: Maximum Allowable Diving Speeds
Glides
The P-51 can be glided safely at speeds down to 25% above stalling speed. With average loads, this
will be around 125 mph IAS at any level – this speed increasing with the weight of the aircraft. The
optimum power-off gliding speed is 175 mph.
With the landing gear and flap retracted, the glide flight path is fairly flat. In this condition, however,
the nose is held high and forward visibility is poor. Lowering either the flaps or the landing gear
reduces the safe gliding speed and greatly steepens the gliding angle and increases the rate of
descent.
The table below demonstrates the horizontal glide distances obtained with a power-off glide at 175
mph IAS from various altitudes:
ALTITUDE [ft]
AIRSPEED [mph]