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P-51D Mustang
A P-51D Mustang, redesignated F-51 Mustang, was transferred to NACA High-Speed Flight Research Station (HSFRC) from
Langley Research Center in 1950. The F-51 Mustang was the first aircraft to employ the NACA laminar-flow airfoil design and could dive to around Mach number 0.8. As an F-51 (fighter instead of pursuit), it was used as a proficiency aircraft at
the HSFRC. Records show it was used as a chase and support aircraft 395 times. Neil Armstrong was among the pilots using it
to chase some of the X-Planes. The P-51D was retired in 1959 as a result of a taxiing mishap.

DFRC Photo # Photo Date Image Description
  Skip links in main table P-51D Mustang Photo Collection Contact Sheet
E55-2078 November 2, 1955 P-51D Mustang on lakebed
EC00-0277-1 September 15, 2000 A restored NACA P-51D Mustang in flight
EC00-0277-3 September 15, 2000 A restored NACA P-51D Mustang in flight
EC00-0277-4 September 15, 2000 A restored NACA P-51D Mustang in flight

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Last Modified: September 27, 2000
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