The prototype NA-73X airframe was rolled out on 9 September 1940, 102 days after the contract was signed.
North American Aviation originally designed the Mustang in response to a British specification that stipulated armament of four .303 in (7.7 mm) machine guns, the Allison V-1710 liquid-cooled engine, a unit cost of no more than $40,000.
It was first flown operationally by the Royal Air Force (RAF) as a tactical-reconnaissance aircraft and fighter-bomber from Jan 1942.
The definitive version, the P-51D, was powered by the Packard V-1650-7, a license-built version of the Rolls-Royce Merlin 60 series two-stage two-speed supercharged engine, and armed with six .50 caliber (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine guns.
More than 15,000 were produced.
(NA-73X prototype)
Graham Bethell and NZ2415 at NZTG Airshow 2014.
https://youtu.be/f5WCPiyixSM
(NA-73X prototype)
File:NA-73X-NX19998-.jpg
1967 The BAC Strikemaster flies for the first time.
Essentially an armed version of the Jet Provost T Mk 5; the Strikemaster was modified with an uprated engine, wing hardpoints, a strengthened airframe, new communication and navigation gear, uprated ejection seats, a revised fuel system, and shortened landing gear.
A total of 146 were built with the RNZAF operating 16 Mk 88 Blunty’s in 14 Sqdn, the first arriving in 1972.
Today there are 3 Mk 88’s on the civil register with 1 Mk 80, originally with the Royal Saudi Air Force.
Love this over NZTG Airshow 2014
https://youtu.be/z-OFKmspfuw
Display over Mosquito launch 2012 – Mozzie visible holding short from 4:10 on short finals.
https://youtu.be/MNkiqhdA2ls
Courtesy of Grayson Ottoway
