F-82
The North American F-82 Twin Mustang is the last American piston-engined fighter ordered into production by the United States Air Force. Based on the North American P-51 Mustang, the F-82 was originally designed as a long-range escort fighter for the Boeing B-29 Superfortress in World War II. The war ended well before the first production units were operational. In the postwar era, Strategic Air Command used the aircraft as a long-range escort fighter. Radar-equipped F-82s were used extensively by the Air Defense Command as replacements for the Northrop P-61 Black Widow as all-weather day/night interceptors. During the Korean War, Japan-based F-82s were among the first USAF aircraft to operate over Korea. The first three North Korean aircraft destroyed by U.S. forces were shot down by F-82s, the first being a North-Korean Yak-11 downed over Gimpo Airfield by the USAF 68th Fighter Squadron.
Specifications
General Characteristics
- Predecessor P-51-D
- Created On Windows
- Wingspan 57.4ft (17.5m)
- Length 33.9ft (10.3m)
- Height 12.4ft (3.8m)
- Empty Weight 16,847lbs (7,641kg)
- Loaded Weight 19,201lbs (8,709kg)
Performance
- Horse Power/Weight Ratio 0.213
- Wing Loading 43.9lbs/ft2 (214.2kg/m2)
- Wing Area 437.6ft2 (40.7m2)
- Drag Points 5131
Parts
- Number of Parts 313
- Control Surfaces 12
- Performance Cost 1,347