P-51D versus P-47M

[Jank]

Which of these would you rather go into combat with at 20,000ft?

[lesofprimus]

P-47M hands down, no question...

[the lancaster kicks ass]

P-47, comfortably.......

[Gnomey]

P-47 for me as well.

[Sal Monella]

Hell, I'd take one of those late war D models with the 2,535 horsepower and paddle blades over a P-51.

[FLYBOYJ]

A P-47M will feast with joy on the little Mustang....

[Jank]

Does someone know the climb rates and max speeds for the P-51D at WEP for the following altitudes:

5,000ft -

15,000ft -

28,000ft -

I'm curious to see how they stack up against the "M" in combat loaded weight of 13,275lbs:
(Data comes from Republic Aviation)

5,000ft - 3,775fpm climnb and 386mph max speed

15,000ft - 3,425fpm climb and 422mph max speed

28,000ft - 2,375fpm climb and 470mph max speed

Sal, the late war P-47D with water injection and paddle prop at 14,500lb combat loaded weight has the following performance (Data comes from the following chart: http://img377.imageshack.us/img377/6...ndspeed7kd.jpg)

5,000ft - 3,150fpm climb and 365mph max speed

15,000ft - 2,950fpm climb and 405mph max speed

28,000ft - 1,800fpm climb and 435mph max speed

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

P-47M as well. Better design, more rugged and as FBJ put it, it woudl feast on the overated P-51D.

[the lancaster kicks ass]

and even if the P-51 got on the tail on the -47, she'd need to land to re-arm to get enough ammo to take out the -47..........

[mosquitoman]

Very true, I'd go for the P-47 aswell

[Jabberwocky]

P-51D based on the Wright Field and Inglewood tests

5000 ft - 3575 ft/min and 390-396 mph (radiator shutter closed vs shutter open)

15,000 ft - 2975 ft/min and 409-412 mph

28,000 ft - 1030 ft/min and 434-439 mph

For comparison with British fighter of the same period


Tempest V (ADFU and Hawker Trials)


5,000 ft - 3,640 ft/ min and 405-412 mph

15,000 ft - 2,750 ft/min and 420-430 mph

28,000 ft - 850 ft/min and 405 mph


Spitfire XIV (ADFU and Boscombe Down trials):


5,000 feet - 4,650 - 4,870 ft/min and 382 - 391 mph

15,000 feet - 3,600-3750 ft/min and 407-416 mph

28,000 feet - 2,600-2,960 ft/min and 444-446 mph

Of the three:

The P-51D wins out overall in speed; more speed with less horsepower (1720 vs 2000-2050 for the Spit and Tempest). It had a very fast airframe.

The Tempest is clearly the fastest below 15,000 ft, but the Sabre sucked above that because of its very simple supercharging.

The Spitfire climbs like a lift. Its climbing harder at 15,000 feet than the others are at 5,000 feet. Sometimes there is no substitute for the small airframe, powerful motor, big wing combination. Fastest at high alt, but only by a squeak.

[Gnomey]

P-47 for me too (to reiterate what I said earlier is this thread), may not be as agile as the P-51 but can take a lot more punishment.

[Jank]

Thanks Jabberwocky.

Well, I am not surprised that the P-47 M is far superior to the P-51 but I am surprised that as low as 15,000ft, the P-47 D is about on par with the P-51 in climb and at the margin at which it exceeds the P-51 at 28,000ft.

Are those P-51 figures at WEP and combat weight (full internal fuel and ammunition)?

[Sal Monella]

How about the P-47-N. If you reduced the internal fuel load to that of the P-47-M or P-47-D, I wonder how she would climb? I understand that the P-47-N had fuel cells and not tanks and that they didn't need to be kept full or even used at all. Normally, you get condensation in tanks from the unused, air filled volume.

[Twitch]

P-47 unless we end up corkscrewing down to low altitude and on the deck. Then I'll take the P-51.