What roll impetus is imparted due to engine torque of an Allison or Merlin that's spooling up? Does this excacerbate the inherent snap roll of a P-51 in the "stall" envelope?
One thing that is clear is that the P-51 is quite aptly named in its flight handling characteristics. My understanding is that the Allision powered planes actually were a joy to fly. Its when they put the Merlin into it that it became a bronco.
"I respected the P-51D but cannot say I loved it. Remember, I am talking about a fully armed combat aircraft in fighting trim. I made a few flights when I did not take-off with a full load of fuel and ammunition. We always took off on the main fuselage tank (right behind the cockpit) and tried to retain the remainder of that tank to come home and land on. So we always, or almost always, had a half of a tank of fuel sloshing around unpleasantly during combat. A pilot who had not developed the techniques to allow for this could get in serious difficulties during violent manoeuvres such as occured during during low-level bombing and strafing attacks. One of the endearing qualities of the Curtis P-40 was its unfailing habit of shaking the stick at the edge of a stall. The Mustang usually let you know that it had had run out of flying speed by doing a violent snap roll - I never learned to appreciate that characteristic! [Gee, wonder why?] On the other hand the P-51D was easy to fly (perhaps too easy since it tended to make the novice over confident) and its comfortable ride was much appreciated during those long 7 and 7 1/2 hour flights. - Col. Jesse Thompson (55th F.G.)My understanding is that by spring of 1942, all the distinguished test pilots of the day that had flown the plane in the U.K. are on record with their impression at the Mustang's handling & performance. For a fighter it was remarkably docile with rather light control forces. The overwhelming complaint being that aileron response was rather weak.
The pilot was robbed of almost everything once he did a pole-plant with the right wing tip.
In my mind the pilot stalled the bird with an angle of attack >50o AOA after either he or the other plane ran into each other; that is the one below during approach moved left, or he (above) moved right. Is that a downdraft or cross-wind? P-51's are notorious for stalling on downdraughts.
As far as "goosing" anything, that's almost always a really really bad idea. One never gooses an F-50, or a F1 200x (either into or out of the turn). When one is making dilute sulfuric acid, one never dumps the total amount of reagent into the diluting quantity of water in an instant.
Look, what's THE number one rule for stalls during approach? In my F-16, everytime I get into trouble during final I drop the nose, kick up the trottle to AB and pull the gear (in that sequence). Then I deal with roll via rudder, and bank is counterd via aileron. Dropping the nose on approach is probably one of THE most difficult things one can try to do. All I know is that the plane does not fly without airspeed and I need airspeed.
That being said and notwithstanding, prayers throneward for the ministry of the Comforter for those who love the pilots that still have to slog through this thing that we call "life"; we ALL get through it one way or another.
