What is the story with the vents on the nose of the P-51? Most have a perforated cover (like P-51K.). Mustang IVs have a louvered/ gilled one. If they were just L-L 51Ks why the difference? And, from what I have seen (hardly exhaustive research) it was just the Mk.IVs that had them. A Brit mod? Limited NAA/Dallas quirk?
“The perforated cooling vents on both sides of the nose are often associated with Merlin Mustangs, but these panels could be replaced with solid ones for cold weather conditions. Also, many Mustangs supplied to RAF and Commonwealth had these vents covered with louvered panels.”
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Thanks. Those solid ones must be for REAL cold weather! Photos of F-51s in Korea and J-26s all have the perforated covers. And neither locale is known for its “balmy” weather.
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Love it - Merlin needs an oil drip pan when parked -
Just like my British motorcycles.
I guess if you can afford a warbird like this you do not need to worry about the cost of kitty litter.
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There are two kinds of aircraft engines — engines that leak oil, and engines that have no oil in them.
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Back in the mid 70s was on an orientation flight in a C-130 (old B model, I believe. Was a Reserve or ANG bird out of Pease AFB). I noticed an oil leak on one of the inboard engines. Pointed it out to the Load Boss. He told me " keep an eye on it. If it stops, tell me. Means were out."
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