In 1981, veteran Mustang designer Edgar Schmued was given his first-ever Mustang ride in the back of Pete Regina’s P-51B (now with the Fighter Collection). During the flight he was joined by Steve Hinton in the P-51D and the late Rick Brickert in the P-51A to make an unusual Mustang family portrait.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: North American P-51 Mustang - СШАUSA - 1940North American P-51D Mustang - СШАUSA - 1944

The retractable forward and aft scoops are well shown in this view of the only Allison P-51 operated by the Navy. Taken immediately after the war, the aircraft was utilized as a chaseplane for such projects as the ungainly Curtiss XF15C in the background. After being sold as surplus, the aircraft went to the Dominican Air Force but its eventual fate is not clear.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Curtiss F15C - СШАUSA - 1945North American P-51 Mustang - СШАUSA - 1940

Larry Waite, NAA engineering technical supervisor, checks out the installation of a P-51B model in the throat of the NAA wind tunnel. Wind was provided courtesy of a 3,000 h.p. motor driving a seven-bladed, 19ft propeller at a maximum of 700 r.p.m. - generating an airflow of 325 m.p.h. over the model.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: North American P-51 Mustang - СШАUSA - 1940

High-angle view of a large-scale Allison-powered Mustang shape being adjusted by R. P. Davie, head of wind tunnel and model design, in the wind tunnel. Note the added extension for the carburettor air intake and the fact that the wing does not have the customary cranked leading edge at the fuselage join.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: North American P-51 Mustang - СШАUSA - 1940

N51HR, shows off its streamlined radiator scoop and the “gutter" above it which allows turbulent boundary-layer air to bypass the intake.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: North American P-51D Mustang - СШАUSA - 1944

This air-to-air view of The Air Museum's P-51D Spam Can, N5448V (which holds the record for being the Mustang owned for the longest time by a single organisation or owner), shows the radiator exit flap in the open position.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: North American P-51D Mustang - СШАUSA - 1944

Bob James flying preserved P-51D N6327T Donna-mite in August 1997 - note the closed radiator exit flap.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: North American P-51D Mustang - СШАUSA - 1944

While an inspector checks out the landing light installation on a factory-fresh P-51D, the slim line and compact nature of the scoop is clearly shown.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: North American P-51D Mustang - СШАUSA - 1944

The Harrison radiator and some of the cooling system are clearly shown in this photograph of a new bubble canopy (still with protective film) being fitted to a P-51D at Inglewood.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: North American P-51D Mustang - СШАUSA - 1944

Lessons learned in scoop designs with the experimental lightweight Mustangs (XP-51F, G and J) were incorporated into the production model P-51H. This view of an XP-51G shows the greatly extended rear portion of the scoop. It was fitted with a Rotol five-bladed propeller; test pilot Bob Chilton had few fond memories of the G and called it the worst-flying of all Mustangs.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: North American P-51D Mustang - СШАUSA - 1944

This illustration of the Mustang’s cooling system, taken from a manual, shows the unusual aft placement of the large single radiator and the airflow through the ventral fairing.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: North American P-51D Mustang - СШАUSA - 1944

These comparisons between the cooling-system airflow of the P-51D Mustang and the Spitfire Mk IX illustrate the former’s advantage in having smooth flow at the intake and a progressively adjustable outlet.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: North American P-51D Mustang - СШАUSA - 1944Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IX / XVI - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1942