Specifications

[P-51D Mustang]
DCS
EAGLE DYNAMICS
25
Tests have been conducted at the factory and it was found that, with a strip of wire 1/16” in
diameter taped along the leading edge of the wing, the aircraft would not leave the ground. Frost will
affect the wing in the same manner; therefore care must be taken to preclude any takeoff attempts
with frost on the wing.
Unique to the P-51 in its time was the laminar flow wing, which was developed by the US National
Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA). Conventional wing designs feature a cross-section with
maximum thickness about a fifth of the way across the wing from the leading edge, with most of the
camber on the top of the wing. The laminar flow wing, in contrast, has its maximum thickness well
aft from the leading edge, and has almost as much camber on top as on the bottom. This design
reduces turbulent flow across the wing, thereby, reducing drag and increasing speed and range. Drag
was also reduced on the P-51 by positioning a ventral radiator underneath the rear of the fuselage,
to present the smallest possible fuselage cross section.
A laminar flow wing of a thin cross section allowed the Mustang to avoid most of the compressibility
dive problems that plagued many other high performance fighters of the time.
Conventional Airfoil. Normal Flow.
Conventional Airfoil. Compressibility.
Laminar Flow Airfoil. Normal Flow.
Laminar Flow Airfoil. Compressibility.