When the United States Air Force became a separate service from the US Army in October of 1947 they adopted the letter F be used for fighter aircraft. Since the Mustang was still considered a front line aircraft they became the F-51 in the USAF instead of the P-51 as they were known in the USAAF. The Mustang was one of the few prop fighters the USAF had in its inventory. The P-47 and P-38 were considered obsolete at the end of World War II.
Yes, I well remember reading about the planes whose designations began with the letter "P" during the time that they were well known. Even during WWII, they were better known as "fighter," and not "pursuit" planes. I recall very few, if any, references to them as "pursuit" planes. There was the suggestion that they were "phighters."
I was almost six years old when Japan and Germany declared war on the United States.
Johnny
In honor of my late father, who was escorted in his combat missions by Mustangs, the initial designation was P-51. They got the F-51 designation after WW2 when Pursuit planes were re-designated as Fighters. Same thing happened when the P-80 was re-designated F-80.
Sam1 Many years ago I had an opportunity to ride in a F-51. I learned to fly out of Holywood, FL., in an Aeronca Champ. An old boy on the field had an F-51 with two seats, and he gave me a ride in it.
Many years ago I had an opportunity to ride in a F-51. I learned to fly out of Holywood, FL., in an Aeronca Champ. An old boy on the field had an F-51 with two seats, and he gave me a ride in it.
NorthWest What is a P51? Besides an awesome airplane, I think you are thinking of a P42DC or P40DC or even a P32AC-DM. Thanks for finding that, I've heated up the link. http://www.emdiesels.com/emdweb/products/pdf/2-sidersENG_LTR_proof_rev5RevH.pdf Anyway, I said a high speed diesel and new coaches because of the unique needs of the Empire Corridor. While the Midwest can get away with bilevel coaches (and that is what they are soliciting bids for), clearances may be a problem in the Northeast. Also, the underground stations must be dealt with by some dual mode operation.
What is a P51? Besides an awesome airplane, I think you are thinking of a P42DC or P40DC or even a P32AC-DM. Thanks for finding that, I've heated up the link.
http://www.emdiesels.com/emdweb/products/pdf/2-sidersENG_LTR_proof_rev5RevH.pdf
Anyway, I said a high speed diesel and new coaches because of the unique needs of the Empire Corridor. While the Midwest can get away with bilevel coaches (and that is what they are soliciting bids for), clearances may be a problem in the Northeast. Also, the underground stations must be dealt with by some dual mode operation.
Practically everyone knows what a P51 was. It was one of the best pens put out by the Parker Pen Company.
Many years ago I had an opportunity to ride in a F-51. I learned to fly out of Holywood, FL., in an Aeronca Champ. An old boy on the field had an F-51 with two seats, and he gave me a ride in it. Several years latter, as I remember it, he lost the coolant over southern Alabama and had to put it into a field. By then I had moved to Japan, and I never heard the final outcome of the story.
NorthWest What is a P51? Besides an awesome airplane, I think you are thinking of a P42DC or P40DC or even a P32AC-DM. Thanks for finding that, I've heated up the link.
Don't you dare knock the P-40 aircraft. The flying tigers had a great record against the zeros, P-40s outperformed P-51s until the 51s got their Merlin engines. The 40 got a much lower HP Merlin which improved performance greatly. They never came close to the - 51 performance which could out maneuver the Nazi aircraft. P-40s were very hardy and stayed together under heavy fire. Probably 40s never got the high HP Merlins due to all going to -51s ?
http://www.aviation-history.com/curtiss/p40.html
Edit many pilots claimed -40s were able to take more fire than even the P-47s.
For those of us who would not know a F125 from a P51, the link takes you to a nice description of the locomotive.
NorthWest Probably a high speed diesel locomotive, such as the F125, and new coaches.
Probably a high speed diesel locomotive, such as the F125, and new coaches.
+1
In fact, the midwest equipment procurement process is already under way.
-Don (Random stuff, mostly about trains - what else? http://blerfblog.blogspot.com/)
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