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Posted: 8/21/2017 9:30:13 PM EDT
North American A-36 Apache
 "The North American A-36 Apache was the ground-attack/dive bomber version of
the North American P-51 Mustang, from which it could be distinguished by the presence of rectangular, slatted dive brakes above and below the wings. A total of 500 A-36 dive bombers served in North Africa, the Mediterranean, Italy and the China-Burma-India theater during World War II before being withdrawn from operational use in 1944." "No funds were available for new fighter contracts in fiscal year 1942, but General Oliver P. Echols and Fighter Project Officer Benjamin S. Kelsey[url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_A-36_Apache#cite_note-GML3-4][4][/url] wanted to ensure that the P-51 remained in production.[url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_A-36_Apache#cite_note-5][5][/url]" "Since appropriations were available for an attack aircraft, Echols specified modifications to the P-51 to turn it into a dive bomber. The contract for 500 A-36A aircraft fitted with bomb racks, dive brakes, and heavier-duty wing, was signed by Kelsey on 16 April 1942,[url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_A-36_Apache#cite_note-Gruenhagen_p._61.-6][6][/url] even before the first flight of the first production P-51 in May 1942." Full wiki page |
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Posted: 8/21/2017 9:31:53 PM EDT
[#1]
Cool!
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Posted: 8/21/2017 9:32:58 PM EDT
[#2]
Allison engine.
Merlin is best engine. |
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Posted: 8/21/2017 9:37:20 PM EDT
[#3]
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Posted: 8/21/2017 9:37:26 PM EDT
[#4]
Dive bomber version of the early P51s. They ended up wiring down the air-brakes...read that somewhere.
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Posted: 8/21/2017 9:38:11 PM EDT
[#5]
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Posted: 8/21/2017 9:44:06 PM EDT
[#6]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Allison engine. Merlin is best engine. |
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Posted: 8/21/2017 9:52:50 PM EDT
[#7]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Yeah, but for attack / dive bombing the Allison probably did ok. |
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Posted: 8/21/2017 9:54:48 PM EDT
[#8]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Yeah, but for attack / dive bombing the Allison probably did ok. How this idea was born, that the A-36 saved the P-51 program, is bizarre. Rolls Royce and RJ Mitchell saved the program. The A-36 was a dead end without a better engine, and Rolls was not about to send engines to the US at that time. |
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Posted: 8/21/2017 10:00:14 PM EDT
[#9]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Allison engine. Merlin is best engine. 
Here is the Packard made engine on the P-51D: 
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Posted: 8/21/2017 10:04:43 PM EDT
[#10]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
How this idea was born, that the A-36 saved the P-51 program, is bizarre. Rolls Royce and RJ Mitchell saved the program. The A-36 was a dead end without a better engine, and Rolls was not about to send engines to the US at that time. |
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Posted: 8/21/2017 10:06:32 PM EDT
[#11]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
The service ceiling was so limited the airplane was damn near useless. How this idea was born, that the A-36 saved the P-51 program, is bizarre. Rolls Royce and RJ Mitchell saved the program. The A-36 was a dead end without a better engine, and Rolls was not about to send engines to the US at that time. |
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Posted: 8/21/2017 10:09:25 PM EDT
[#12]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
The service ceiling was so limited the airplane was damn near useless. How this idea was born, that the A-36 saved the P-51 program, is bizarre. Rolls Royce and RJ Mitchell saved the program. The A-36 was a dead end without a better engine, and Rolls was not about to send engines to the US at that time. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Yeah, but for attack / dive bombing the Allison probably did ok. How this idea was born, that the A-36 saved the P-51 program, is bizarre. Rolls Royce and RJ Mitchell saved the program. The A-36 was a dead end without a better engine, and Rolls was not about to send engines to the US at that time. |
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Posted: 8/21/2017 10:13:15 PM EDT
[#13]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
The Museum of Aviation at Robins AFB has both but the P-51H and P-51D. |
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Posted: 8/21/2017 10:19:10 PM EDT
[#14]
If you read the book 'Brave men", By Ernie Pyle, and by the way, you're an American Pinko commie fag if you don't, you can learn about the time he spent with an A-36 group in Italy.
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Posted: 8/21/2017 10:22:37 PM EDT
[#15]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Are you stationed there? I was 5th Mob '93-'96. Looks like they've added alot to the museum since then. Thanks for the pics. |
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Posted: 8/21/2017 10:59:57 PM EDT
[#16]
Ya, ok, A-36 was cool...but P-47 did it better.
And Zemkes Wolfpack repeatedly proved that it was just as good a fighter. And it was tougher. And it had heavier firepower. And the N model could outrange the 51. And the M model was faster. Sorry but I've never understood the P-51 love fest. No R-2800, no care. |
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Posted: 8/22/2017 6:18:15 AM EDT
[#17]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Never stationed at Robins I was at RAF Alconbury UK and Minot. I live within driving distance to the base though. Robins has the second largest museum behind Wright Pat. I live within driving distance of it too, but Wright Pat is closer.  I need to get back up there someday.
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Posted: 8/22/2017 6:21:24 AM EDT
[#18]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
The design was going to be shelved without funds. The A-36 program kept the production line open. The Merlin 61 engine brought the power up from 1200hp to 1620hp. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
The service ceiling was so limited the airplane was damn near useless. How this idea was born, that the A-36 saved the P-51 program, is bizarre. Rolls Royce and RJ Mitchell saved the program. The A-36 was a dead end without a better engine, and Rolls was not about to send engines to the US at that time. |
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Posted: 8/22/2017 6:27:30 AM EDT
[#19]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Ya, ok, A-36 was cool...but P-47 did it better. And Zemkes Wolfpack repeatedly proved that it was just as good a fighter. And it was tougher. And it had heavier firepower. And the N model could outrange the 51. And the M model was faster. Sorry but I've never understood the P-51 love fest. No R-2800, no care. later versions of the P-47 were better aircraft. I would much rather have run around ETO or PTO in the Thunderbolt. |
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