North American P-51H Mustang
The lightweight, fastest production Mustang — redesigned for the invasion of Japan · First flight 1945 · In service 1945
The P-51H grew out of North American's lightweight XP-51F, G and J experiments, which applied British design load factors to strip weight out of the Mustang. The production H kept many of those savings, making it several hundred pounds lighter than the P-51D despite a longer fuselage, while a taller fin finally cured the type's directional-stability problems. Its Packard V-1650-9 had automatic boost control and water injection.
The first P-51H flew on 3 February 1945 and the type was intended as the main USAAF fighter for the planned invasion of Japan. With the end of the war the order for 2,000 was cut back and only 555 were completed; none saw combat. With a top speed of about 760 km/h at 6,900 m it was the fastest production Mustang.
Redesignated F-51H in 1948, the aircraft served with Air National Guard squadrons into the 1950s. Few survive: one, 44-64265, is displayed at the Museum of Aviation at Robins AFB, Georgia.
Other P-51 Mustang variants
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North American Mustang I / P-51A / A-36 (Allison-engined)
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North American P-51B / P-51C Mustang (Mustang III)
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North American P-51D / P-51K Mustang
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