Flight Notes—how to fly the North American P-51 Mustang

This race-modified North American P-51D, available in several different liveries, wrings extra performance out of one of the best-performing fighters of World War II. While its appearance is close to stock, the clipped-wing racer's wingspan is four feet less than the factory original.

Like the clipped-wing Spitfires used for ground attack in WWII, the racer's reduced wingspan provides better low-level maneuverability and reduced drag. This race aircraft attacks the pylons at Reno not with guns, but with more than 3,000 horsepower. Its Rolls-Royce Merlin V-12 is tricked out to produce twice the power of the factory Merlin engine.

Much of this added power is achieved by running more than twice the supercharger boost of the stock engine—up to 150 inches. In the real world, pilots who want to finish their race without damaging their aircraft's engine usually limit boost to around 130 inches. Special racing systems, including anti-detonation injection of water and alcohol (ADI), allow sustained operation at high boost pressures. Its power and reduced weight (without guns, ammo, military equipment, or stock wingtips), give the P-51 racer a top speed of more than 500 mph.

Racing Operations

Function	Key Command
Toggle Anti-detonation Injection (ADI)	SHIFT+X

Specifications

	U.S.	Metric
Maximum Speed	550 mph	885 km/h
Cruise Speed	265 mph	426 km/h
Engine	Rolls Royce Merlin with a single-stage supercharger
Propeller	Hamilton Standard 4-Blade 24D50 Propeller, diameter 11 feet 2 inches (3.4 meters)
Empty Weight	7,100 pounds	3,221 kilograms
Maximum Gross Weight	9,300 pounds	4,218 kilograms
Length	32 ft 3 inches	9.83 meters
Wingspan	33 feet	10.1 meters
Height	13 ft 8 inches	4.17 meters
Seating	1