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Event Details
August 3, 2024 @ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
The Mustang was originally designed to British specifications and was powered with the American-built Allison V-1710 Engine. The Allison however, struggled at higher altitudes, which invited to British to engage in an experiment, where they swapped the engine on a Mustang (a nickname they had created) for their more powerful Rolls-Royce Merlin engine. This combination would be a game changer, with a top speed of over 400 mph and vastly improved high-altitude performance. Coupled with the new K-14 gunsight and improved armament of 6x .50 caliber Browning machine guns, the Mustang’s impact on the air war over Europe cannot be understated.
Before the Mustang model came into service, the bomber units of the 8th Air Force took 77% casualties from 1942 through 1944. The P-51 completely reversed that trend and mission requirements for bomber crews actually went up as the Mustangs went to work eliminating the Luftwaffe from the skies over Europe. Their work defending the bomber formations earned the escorts the nickname “Little Friends.”
Saturdays at 1pm from May to September, the Military Aviation Museum will be showcasing historical aircraft and commemorating important wartime events through narrated flying demonstrations.
Experience the rumble from the engine up close as you hear from the pilots about what it is like to fly these incredible aircraft, learn about the battles they participated in, and about the men and women who built, flew and maintained them during the war!
Summer of Flight is included in your general museum admission and free for museum members. Each event starts at 1:00 pm unless otherwise noted.
Flights, Aircraft and Topics subject to change. Due to inclement weather, dates may be rescheduled to a later date or canceled. All flights are weather and maintenance permitting.