Guy Alcala wrote:


*I have serious doubts about this being correct, and suspect it's a
typo. The P-51D weighs over 1,500 lb. more than the P-51A (albeit
with considerably more power and a four-bladed prop), and I just don't
believe that it's better than, e.g., the P-63A.

Now go back and look at the numbers for the B-25.....and yet they were
able to take off with less than half the flight deck.

In point of fact, the Navy conducted flight tests using a slightly
modified P-51D (I think) on USS Shangrila in 1944. The plane was
easily able to take off using the same space as Navy fighters and no
catapult and easily landed using a hook fitted for the tests. The
results were quite favorable but not compelling enough to continue.

Scott Peterson

--
God must love stupid
people, he made so many.

69/570