Poll: Lottery Winner Pick One: Mustang (P51-D) or Corsair(F4U)

Lottery Winner Pick Just One: Mustang (P51-D) or Corsair(F4U)

  • Vought F4U Corsair

    Votes: 62 62.6%

  • North American P51-D

    Votes: 37 37.4%
  • Total voters
    99
I remember seeing a video about a pilot flying a restored Corsair down in New Zealand. I thought he commented that the Corsair down low (like below 16,000msl) or so was the better plane for speed/climbs etc and the P51-D was the one to beat up high.

I'm actually surprised at the poll. I thought the Mustang would be the winner. Its still pretty close though.
 
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Ghery said:
I voted for the P-51D, but if someone gave me an F4U in its place I wouldn't complain at all. Love them both.
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Curious...what makes the P-51 the winner for you?

I myself am Navy and just dig the Corsair. But just the thought of waves of P-51's escorting our Bombers over into Europe is amazing. Can't possibly imagine what it must have really been like.

A friend of mine who recently passed away had plenty of P-51 time before I met him. His dad (WWII Colonel on Bombers) picked one up after the war. I think it even came with a spare engine. There must have been a like a 50:1 surplus of Mustangs vs Corsairs after WWII??? I know the same went for T-34's.
 
Sinistar said:
I remember seeing a video about a pilot flying a restored Corsair down in New Zealand. I thought he commented that the Corsair down low (like below 16,000msl) or so was the better plane for speed/climbs etc and the P51-D was the one to beat up high.
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It all depends on the version of the aircraft. Late model Corsairs were better performers at most altitudes than Mustangs. But Mustangs were more efficient, and therefore better long range escorts. Based on what I've seen written by people who've flown both, the Corsair was the better mannered and better flying airplane, but that makes sense, being a carrier type.
 
Would have to test fly both then go with the one that I didn’t cash
 
I'll take the P-51, but I want a B or C version...
 
Sinistar said:
Curious...what makes the P-51 the winner for you?

I myself am Navy and just dig the Corsair. But just the thought of waves of P-51's escorting our Bombers over into Europe is amazing. Can't possibly imagine what it must have really been like.

A friend of mine who recently passed away had plenty of P-51 time before I met him. His dad (WWII Colonel on Bombers) picked one up after the war. I think it even came with a spare engine. There must have been a like a 50:1 surplus of Mustangs vs Corsairs after WWII??? I know the same went for T-34's.
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Bombers were escorted over Europe by P-47s and P-38s, as well. Just the P-51 had more range. I suspect that the number of surplus Mustangs to surplus Corsairs after the war might have been due to the larger number of Mustangs made. Just a guess.

Why did I choose the P-51 over the Corsair? I don't know, personal preference, perhaps? But, as I noted, give me either and I wouldn't complain.
 
Sinistar said:
10,000gal of low lead
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Thanks, Art. I’ll take the Corsair. But Don’t these wonderful old machines require fuel more exotic than 100LL? Like 130 or 135 octane? What good is a beautiful old warbirds that will blow up if you try a METO power takeoff and climb out?

-Skip
 
Probably F4U for me, but I love both of 'em. Gotta love folding wings and the whistle. Forget the T-hangar, just build an A-hangar! The sound of the Merlin is pretty unique as well, can't go wrong either way.
 
Skip Miller said:
Thanks, Art. I’ll take the Corsair. But Don’t these wonderful old machines require fuel more exotic than 100LL? Like 130 or 135 octane? What good is a beautiful old warbirds that will blow up if you try a METO power takeoff and climb out?

-Skip
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They don't *require* the high octane stuff. They can run on all sorts of avgas as long as you follow operating limitations for that fuel. If you dig deep enough, you could probably find an engine chart that would allow you to use 80 octane. That said,100LL is fine, just heed the manifold pressure limits that are associated with that octane rating.
 
Since its the mythical lottery, lets make it 10,000 gallons of 130 Octane avgas :) Probably worth more than the plane!

But you'll have to settle for 100LL if you fuel up away from home base.
 
F4U would be my choice. I remember watching Black Sheep Squadron in the 70's (yes I'm that old!), loved that show and it got me hooked on the Corsair. BUT, if I could have a "fighter" from WW2, it'd be the P38 Lightning! Coolest of the cool IMO.

Interesting that the Corsair was actually deployed early in the Korean war, I don't believe the Mustangs were.
 
I’ve always liked the Corsair better. Better performer (other than fuel economy. Is the Mustang a Mooney?) and (to me) way cooler looks.

if I did choose a P-51 it’d be a B or C model with a Malcomb hood.

860CCBED-884E-4E50-9D34-AEC5E195DD75.jpeg
 
Brad W said:
I had to pick F4U.... baa baa black sheep's flight scenes as a little kid are a big part of what started my aviation passion
and Pappy's auto-biogrophy might very well be the first book I ever volunteered to read
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After his book came out, Greg did the airshow tour selling copies from a card table. I flew into Sonoma County airport for the Memorial Day "Wings Over Wine Country" air show (or whatever they called it back then) and chatted with him for five or ten minutes, then bought an autographed copy. Since the Corsair was my brother's favorite WW2 fighter, I gave it to him. After he passed, my sister-in-law was going through his book collection (he was a high school coach and history teacher and had a huge library) and came across Baa Baa Black Sheep. She graciously offered it to me and I accepted.

Greg Boyington.jpg
 
If we’re able to pick Mustang versions, I’ll be somewhat contrary and pick the A-36 Apache. Basically an early P-51A with speed brakes and hardpoints. Still scoots just fine at lower latitudes.
 
This poll is like trying to pick a favorite snow cone flavor, cherry or grape. They’re all favorites but I’d have to go with cherry...and the Mustang.

I know the Corsair is known as the Whistling Death but the Mustang also has a distinctive whistle too. For the life of me I can’t find the video I’ve seen where a guy who flys a Mustang demo explains the whistle comes from the .50 cal barrels at higher speed and when pulling a higher AOA. Closest I’ve found is the 2:00 minute mark on this video:

 
Arm3 said:
For the life of me I can’t find the video I’ve seen where a guy who flys a Mustang demo explains the whistle comes from the .50 cal barrels at higher speed and when pulling a higher AOA.
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It is likely this video, starting at about the 13:30 mark. All around excellent video about emergencies in flight, discussing a P-51 engine out incident.
 
Stan Cooper said:
After his book came out, Greg did the airshow tour selling copies from a card table. I flew into Sonoma County airport for the Memorial Day "Wings Over Wine Country" air show (or whatever they called it back then) and chatted with him for five or ten minutes, then bought an autographed copy. Since the Corsair was my brother's favorite WW2 fighter, I gave it to him. After he passed, my sister-in-law was going through his book collection (he was a high school coach and history teacher and had a huge library) and came across Baa Baa Black Sheep. She graciously offered it to me and I accepted.

View attachment 84220
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I bought a couple copies from him at an airshow in Colorado, probably in 1980 or 81. Gave one to my dad, kept the other.
 
No contest for me. Corsair all the way.

I was in 5th or 6th grade when Baa Baa Blacksheep was on. Loved that show, particularly the flying scenes. My first flying model was a Guillows Corsair. Just checked and the price for one of those is now $108!!! I think I paid $20 in 1977.

ab6475b1d449a8731b1789d1cbbaf882.png
 
Corsair -- first a/c ride was in one 1973 never will forget the ride along lake Erie shore --
 
GBSoren said:
F4U would be my choice. I remember watching Black Sheep Squadron in the 70's (yes I'm that old!), loved that show and it got me hooked on the Corsair. BUT, if I could have a "fighter" from WW2, it'd be the P38 Lightning! Coolest of the cool IMO.

Interesting that the Corsair was actually deployed early in the Korean war, I don't believe the Mustangs were.
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+1

Including a MIG-15 kill.
 
GBSoren said:
Interesting that the Corsair was actually deployed early in the Korean war, I don't believe the Mustangs were.
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They absolutely were. They flew out of both Japan (long range helps) and Korea.
 
kyleb said:
They absolutely were. They flew out of both Japan (long range helps) and Korea.
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:yeahthat:

F-51 Mustang Units of the Korean War

Fair Use:
By the time the Korean War erupted, the F-51 Mustang was seen as obsolete, but that view quickly changed when the USAF rushed 145 of them to the theatre in late 1950. They had the endurance to attack targets in Korea from bases in Japan, where the modern F-86 fighters and other jets did not. Rather than the interceptor and escort fighter roles the Mustang had performed during World War 2, in the Korean War they were assigned to ground attack missions - striking at communist troop columns advancing south.
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kyleb said:
They absolutely were. They flew out of both Japan (long range helps) and Korea.
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Interesting, I didn't know that, I stand corrected.:)
 
Sinistar said:
...But just the thought of waves of P-51's escorting our Bombers over into Europe is amazing. Can't possibly imagine what it must have really been like....
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It must have been a wonderful feeling to finally have escorts with the range to stay with them all the way to Berlin!
 
Stan Cooper said:
After his book came out, Greg did the airshow tour selling copies from a card table. I flew into Sonoma County airport for the Memorial Day "Wings Over Wine Country" air show (or whatever they called it back then) and chatted with him for five or ten minutes, then bought an autographed copy. Since the Corsair was my brother's favorite WW2 fighter, I gave it to him. After he passed, my sister-in-law was going through his book collection (he was a high school coach and history teacher and had a huge library) and came across Baa Baa Black Sheep. She graciously offered it to me and I accepted.

View attachment 84220
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wow!
 
Thinking about that Pappy Boyington meeting and signature....

Brings to mind one of my regrets.
I've had the opportunity to fly with and meet a few WW2 vets, but I never really asked them about it or had any serious conversations. I sincerely regret that.
- the examiner that initial failed me, then passed my next instrument ride flew P-47's in the pacific (Lt Col William JH Watson)
- I flew just a short couple flights with a guy my understanding was flew P-51...once busted for flying under the Golden Gate Bridge (Hawkeye - can't read his logbook signature & I never heard his real name)
- Met Col Robert Morgan at a Sun n Fun book signing...sadly just a few days before his accident.
- Got close enough to say hi but not meet both Chuck Yeager and Bud Anderson at OSH
- chief CFI at the school I trained flew C-47's as I understood it..... I thought during WW2, but turns out just after (Lt Col Carel Humme)

and maybe more.... especially considering younger guys from Korea and later...my wife's late uncle Major General William E. Overacker among them
I've often wondered about perhaps some of my old teachers, college professors, or folks I crossed paths with in my younger days...but some of them probably had some very unbelievable stories and I was never even aware.
 
would you rather spend 20+ or 60 gal per hour fuel costs or.. and find 115/145 high oct fuel.

A T-28B would a fun ride, we rode in those often while I was at Andrews, (1961-4)
 
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The inside back cover of Baa Baa Black Sheep has a snapshot of Greg Boyington standing on the wing of an Ercoupe.

I can't help but think that must have been a helluva transition moving from an F4U in combat to an 85 hp airplane without rudder pedals.

Greg Boyington with Ercoupe.jpg
 
GBSoren said:
Interesting, I didn't know that, I stand corrected.:)
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Bob Hoover actually flew combat missions in Korea in Mustangs as a civilian. Ironically, Charles Lindbergh flew combat missions during WWII in the Corsair...also as a civilian.
 
I voted for the Corsair... but that wouldn't be my first choice. I have to say the F8 Bearcat or the P-47 would be my two preferences. Maybe even a P-38.


P-38_Lightning_head-on.jpg
 
Velocity173 said:
Bob Hoover actually flew combat missions in Korea in Mustangs as a civilian. Ironically, Charles Lindbergh flew combat missions during WWII in the Corsair...also as a civilian.
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Lindberg also visited P-38 squadrons, and on one mission while he was "observing" he shot down a Ki-51 Sonia scout plane. He definitely helped the Marines and Air Force squadrons to extend their combat range.
 
Ba Ba Blacksheep we use to watch them film this out by Indian Dunes where we use to ride dirt bikes, just a little east of Santa Paula airport. Many of the scenes you see of them over the ocean are just of the coast from Ventura/Oxnard and the Channel Islands.

From what I am told, parts of the runway is still there... but not for long, huge projecting going in... McMansions and high-end stip palls... :(
 
Sinistar said:
Since its the mythical lottery, lets make it 10,000 gallons of 130 Octane avgas :) Probably worth more than the plane!

But you'll have to settle for 100LL if you fuel up away from home base.
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If you won the mythical lottery, you could have some purple juice made special.
 
Am I the only one that would prefer a Cessna Mustang, or a PC12 instead?

Much more useful.
 
dans2992 said:
Am I the only one that would prefer a Cessna Mustang, or a PC12 instead?

Much more useful.
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I’ll take the Corsair and then buy a membership in NetJets or Wheels Up. Much more practical

Cheers
 
I'll take pappy's plane.

fly to the scene of the incident, or be recovered at the scene of the tragedy
 
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