「この飛行機は何も言うことはないでしょう」と小池さん。確かに、第2次大戦における最優秀戦闘機という評価は高いし、アメリカ軍機にしては例外と言えるほどスマートな機体に好感を持つ人は多いはずだ（作品のB型はコックピットの背がしーサーバックだが、D型以降は水滴風防を使用。ますます洗練されたスタイルになる)。

　層流翼を採用した卓越した空力設計で、速度、操縦性、旋回性能、武装、航続力等どれをとっても一級品、実にバランスがとれている。

しかし、「クセのある飛行機が好き」という小池さんには、優秀過ぎるがゆえにちょっと物足りず、何も言葉が浮かばないのかもしれない。太平洋では、その長大な航続力を生かして硫黄島から本土空襲に参加。疾風や紫電改の好敵手だったが、こんな優秀な戦闘機が太平洋戦争開戦1年前には初飛行していたという事実にも驚かされる。疾風は1943年、紫電改は1944年なのだから。

　When the British requested North American Aviation to build Curtiss P-40s under license for the RAF, company President J.H. "Dutch" Kindelberger contered with an offer to construct a superior aircraft using the same engine as the P-40, even though NAA had never before built a fighter Within 117 days, the NA-73X prototype was completed, and in October 1940, it was airborne.

Designed to escort bombers over long distances, the P-51 combined every aerodynamic, structural, and systems advancement, resulting in exceptional internal fuel capacity and low drag. Drop tanks of 75 and 108 gallons were located under each wing, enabling the P-51 to reach every point in Western Europe.

In 1942 the aircraft's high-altitude limitation was overcome by using a 60-series Merlin eng[ne. The P-51B version incorporated an intercooler radiator and augmented coo]ant and o[1 radiator and a large-area, four-blade propeller to absorb power at high altitude.

The P-51 could out-perform the German Bf 109 or Fw 190 once [ts tanks were amptied and dropped. It became the leading U.S. fighter in Europe for the last 18 months of WWII.

Manufacturer: North American Aviahon, Inc.

Type: fighter

Engine: 12-cylinder V Iiquid-cooled; P-51A-Allson V-1710-81, 1,200 hp; P-51B-Pacard V-1650-3, 1,400 hp; P-51D-Pacard V-16507, 1,510 hp; P-51H- V, 1,380 hp Dimensions: wingspan 37 feet; Length P-51A/B/D-32 feet 3 inches, P51H-33 feet 4 inches; height P-51A 8 feet 8 inches, P-51B-12 feet 2 inches, P-51D/H 13 feet 8 inches Weight: P-51A-8,800 pounds (loaded); P-51B-11,200 pounds (loaded); P-51D-11,600 pounds (loaded)

Speed: P-51A-390 mph maximum at 20,000 feet, P-51B-440 mph maximum at 30,000 feet; P-51C/D-437 mph maximum at 25,000 feet; P-51H 487 mph maximum at 25,000 feet, 380 mph cruise

Ceiling: P-51A-31,350 feet; P-51B-42,000 feef, P-51D-41,900 feef

Range: P51A-750 miles; P-51B-810 miles; P-51D-950 miles; P-51H-2,400 miles, 850 miles with 1,000 pounds Armament: P-51A-4 machine guns, 1,000 pounds of bomb; P-51B-4 machine guns, 2,000 pounds of bombs; P-51D/H-6 machine guns, 2,000 pounds of bombs

Crew: 1