Photo of the Day: A P-51 Mustang, An F-22A Raptor

SUN 'n FUN 2011 Air Show, Florida, USA ^ | April 3, 2011 | Chris Hagood Photography

[EnjoyingLife]

1024 x 680 pixels . . . 3188 x 2117 pixels . . . via http://www.flickr.com/photos/chagood/6747365813/  

[zeugma]

Nice!Either the mustang was hauling ass, or the raptor was about to stall!

[JRandomFreeper]

One of those aircraft came from the factory with an O2 system that worked.

/johnny

[WorkerbeeCitizen]

Probably both

[albionin]

I was just thinking the same thing. My dad worked for the Naval Air Rework Facility in Norfolk, VA as an electrical engineer. He was in charge of the F-14 division. My heart always swells when I see any kind of display of military aviation. F-14’s and A-6’s were a common site flying low over our house on their way to NAS Oceana to do a touch and go. We sure have come a long way since the 70’s and 80’s.

[Vinnie]

I was fortunate to be able to take a similar pic at an airshow in Columbus, OH. several yrs. ago. Not nearly as nice .
It’s amazing the difference in size between yesterday’s fighters and today.

[MulberryDraw]

“The F-22 pilot can maintain control of the aircraft at speeds as low as that of a Piper Cub or at very high supersonic speeds.”

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/f-22.htm

[50mm]

The P-51 was added to the photo of the F-22. You can tell because the tail of the P-51 should be completely behind the wing of the F-22 since the P-51 is behind and below the F-22. I fixed the photo:

[patton]

Yep - the 1st is claerly photshopped.

[smokingfrog]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhCqNIL6MOU

[50mm]

I take it back. It’s possible the photo was not Photoshopped. I was assuming the photos were taken from the ground. If the photo was take from another aircraft, the P-51 could be above and in front of the F-22.

[moovova]

New Desktop Background...

Thanks!

[50mm]

The P-51 is 32 feet long and the F-22 is 62 feet long, so the P-51 is in front of and above the F-22. The photo is probably real. My apologies to the photographer.

[ryan71]

I think you're correct.

[patton]

Hmmm. maybe.

(Dislexics of the world, UNTIE!)

[nascarnation]

Great pic, thanks.
About 10 yrs ago I was touring the shop where Roush builds their Nascar engines.
Off in a corner was special tooling where they were building V12s for Jack’s P-51. Very impressive hardware.
Not sure after two near fatal crashes if he still flies them or not.

[SC_Native]

Perhaps you could also add a pilot to the P51?

[50mm]

The pilot is toward the front of the P-51. This is a P-51 modified as a two-seater and there is nobody in the back seat.

[100American]

Go to the higher res photo, pilot clearly visible

[50mm]

I was wrong. See post 13.

[zeugma]

“The F-22 pilot can maintain control of the aircraft at speeds as low as that of a Piper Cub or at very high supersonic speeds.”

Awesome. Want one!

[US_MilitaryRules]

Great pic! It looks like a dinosaur and a space alien.

[50mm]

This particular P-51 was converted from a single seat P-51D to a two seat TF-51D.

Read here at Stallion 51

[ConservativeWarrior]

I wonder if 100 years from now someone will look back at that picture and consider both aircraft from roughly the same era.

[50mm]

My father flew the P-51, the subsonic F-86 and several early supersonic jets including the F-100 and F-104 in the USAF. He always said he much preferred flying the P-51.

[PilotDave]

The F-22 is huge compared to a P-51. I always like the P-51/F-16 formation photos. Very similar in size and layout.

[50mm]

The F-22 is huge compared to a P-51.

That's what had me fooled. I was unaware of the huge difference until I researched. Photos can be deceptive without context and visual cues.

[The Great RJ]

My photo of a P-38 and F-22 flyby taken at an airshow in 2009.

[BigpapaBo]

Look at the shadows on the F22 tail section, then look at the lack of shadow anywhere on the P-51. I think it was P-shopped

[exit82]

Don’t feel bad—I thought the first one was wrong.

The first photo still looks unsafe for the Mustang—your version makes me feel better. Use of a telephoto lens may
make the distance appear shortened.

Hard to believe the P-51D Mustang was designed almost 70 years ago. It truly is one of the most beautiful objects designed by man. Even parked on the tarmac, it takes your breath away.

[50mm]

Remember, the F-22 has a Y-tail that has a steep angle. From the looks of it, the sun in the picture is high and toward the nose of the aircraft. The F-22 only has a significant shadow below the port side tail.

I zoomed in on the Hi-Res version of the photo and found no unusual artifacts. I'm convinced the photo is real.

[50mm]

I’ve got a P-51 flight on my bucket list. You can get an hour of flight time, including taking the stick, for around $3000.

[ConservativeWarrior]

Your father was a lucky man.

Taking a Mustang for a spin is high on my list of “Things to do if I Make it to Heaven.” (haha)

[50mm]

Your father was a lucky man.

Lucky to survive to retirement after flying the F-104 "Widow Maker." LOL

[PSYCHO-FREEP]

[Nice!Either the mustang was hauling ass, or the raptor was about to stall!]

Not at all! The Mustang can easily maintain 450 mph and the Raptor can land and take off at under 150. The Raptor was flying quite comfortably in the photo. The Mustang was effortlessly cruising.

[PSYCHO-FREEP]

I agree, that prop indicates the last and most powerful engine/thrust combination that the P-51 was upgraded to. (I believe it was 1800 HP?) There are also some newer racing mods that surpass those improvements.

[50mm]

The P-51H could generate full throttle 2270 HP for short periods of time, but was rated continuous maximum at 1380HP. I think the engine overheats at continuous max power.

Specs at link

[exit82]

I’ve got a P-51 flight on my bucket list. You can get an hour of flight time, including taking the stick, for around $3000.

I hope you fly one someday. Share the pics,OK?

[PSYCHO-FREEP]

In my earlier Alaska flying days, I belonged to a flight club that owned a P-51D. I have logged just over 20 hours in one.

Believe me, if you can ever swing it, do whatever you have to FLY ONE before you pass on! You won't be disappointed!

The second you hit the switch, the sound of that power plant coming to life, and the sound it makes in the Cockpit will make you just want to sit and listen for a while, before you even lead the throttle in to taxi.

You can't go to full throttle either, until your takeoff roll is about half way complete. The torque and “P” factor is violent if you make the mistake of throttling up too quickly.

But once she is in the air, you will be awe stricken at the ease and beauty of this tremendous aircraft. Nothing handles as smoothly or gracefully. The engine and airframe are as one, and the response is indescribable.

The P-51 is somewhat prone to drift off of trim, so it is important to stay on top of it, since they are hard to handle if they are out of trim. Especially when landing. Wheel landings can be rather squirrely, (Because of the small vertical stabilizer and rudder) so it is best to flare long and touch the runway in a semi-three point. The nose also blocks out most of your forward vision after the tail wheel touches down. So be sure you master a side vision landing/taxi technique before you fly one.

This is no aircraft for a limited tricycle geared trainee either. It will eat your lunch in a big hurry. Nothing but the most experienced conventional gear pilots should attempt to solo in one.

But even so, you sound like you have the necessary experience to handle it. Good luck in your pursuit! You will love that decision. I guarantee it.

[Little Ray]

The Mustang is prettier...

[50mm]

I won’t be soloing. I don’t have a pilot’s license. I would be flying backseat in a TF-51. LOL

I work with aircraft and I’ve flown in small aircraft for a couple of hundred hours or so as part of my job. I have taken the controls of a Cirrus SR-22 and a Cessna 170 while already airborne in each. I think I know enough about flying to solo. I just haven’t taken the time to get my formal training and license.

[jmacusa]

“When I saw those P-51s over Berlin I knew the jig was up.’’— Herman Goering. The P-51 ‘’Mustang’’. The little plane that won WW2.

[50mm]

I hope you fly one someday. Share the pics,OK?

I certainly will.

[PSYCHO-FREEP]

Was that a 170B? (Round tail) They are a fun aircraft, that is if you take that worthless Continental 0-300A3 off the firewall and replace with an 0-360 Lycoming. I owned one of those for a decade and used it all over Alaska. It was a great aircraft!

[50mm]

I meant a Cessna 172, not 170. Not sure of the model letter, but from looking at the Wiki on it, it was between E and H inclusive because it had circuit breakers, but not the Lycoming engine.

[hattend]

I took this photo at the National Championship Air Races in Reno...2010, I think.

[hattend]

In that Pic: P-38 in lead, F-22 on right wing, P-51 on left wing.