![]() ![]() Unfortunately the installed Allison V-1710 engine of the Mark I's had poor high altitude performance, so missions were relegated to low altitude recon and ground attacks, which was actually a poor mission type for the laminar flow wing! Despite this the Mustang was seen as winning design by pilots and engineers so effort was made to improve it. Although the purchase was before the Blitzkrieg and Battle of Britain, it was not until October 1941 when they were delivered in UK with the first Mustang Mk Is entering service in January 1942. Pleased with the new fighter, on 24 April 1940 the British commission purchased 320 NA-73s, plus 300 updated units labelled NA-83s, all of which were designated "North American Mustang Mark I" by the RAF. Much to relief of NAA the finished aircraft performed well and orders were put in (one of the prototype NA-73X provided to the USAAC (XF-51) still exists today! BuNos 41-038, NX51NA). Kindelberger gambled the company on this new airfoil delivering the performance desired, since the airfoil data was mostly theoretical. The NAA/NACA 45–100 airfoil was a brand new invention that promised significantly reduced turbulence, thus drag, at high speed. 2 key differences on the NA-73X compared to contemporary fighters were moving the oil and water radiators to the rear of the aircraft with extensive duct work, and new "laminar flow" wing airfoils. ![]() In just 102 days after the agreement the NA-73X rolled out of the factory, flying 47 days later, an incredibly short time. NAA President James Howard "Dutch" Kindelberger proposed he could design a new, better fighter in less time than getting licenses for the P-40. Britain and France quickly realized they were well behind the manufacturing capacity of Germany and looked to American manufacturing to catch up.īritain wanted the Curtiss P-40 fighter but they were at production capacity so instead asked North American Aviation (then known for the B-25 "Mitchell" bomber and AT-6 "Harvard" trainer also purchased for the RAF) about making the P-40. Germany had built up enormous production capabilities and was churning out aircraft using the latest technology. 2.1 Who is the manufacturer of the Mustang?. ![]()
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