P-51 Mustang vs. Spitfire - A Comparison

Comparing the North American P-51D Mustang against the Supermarine Spitfire Mk.XVIIIe flying at the same airshow. Looking at both Warbirds at a technical point of view and at the takeoff, simulated dogfight, lowpasses and landing.

[liamweaver]

"If you see a silver plane, it's American. If it's green, it's British. If you see nothing at all, it's the Luftwaffe."

[lauriepocock]

I see there is the usual comments below about range, but please bear in mind the Spitfire was designed to protect UK from foreign bombers and had adequate range for that task. To ease production, which was now needed to be devoted to bombers, the RAF went to the US for a similar aircraft to the Spitfire and got the Mustang. At first the US saw no potential in the Mustang, but it was only when their bomber losses became unsustainable there turned to the Mustang and added more petrol tanks to give them the range needed to accompany bombers to target. Because the RAF concentrated on night bombing they saw no need for fighter protection; you can question that policy. However the Spitfire could go to Berlin, and did regularly. When the Spitfire role was changed to interdiction, its range was increased. Arguing one was better than the other is meaningless. They, most of the time performed different roles; THEY COMPLIMENTED EACH OTHER.

[tomkenney]

My father was a P-51 pilot. He retired in '65, when I was 3, but we'd go to air shows and he'd chat up the pilots, knew one of them, and I'd get to sit it the cockpits and stand on the wings. Felt like hot stuff, I'll tell you. And to feel those motors up close, as a little guy, took my breath away, for several breaths.

[edwinrideout]

I love the Spitfire even when the Griffon engine was installed in it. I find that the Merlin gave the Spitfire it’s most pleasing sound. Always a Spitfire fan.

[SalisburyKarateClub]

Thank you for not spoiling it with crappy music. Just love listening to the glorious sound of those engines. But for me the Spitfire is my favourite, the shape is just great.

[llewop]

Both beautiful aircraft, hard to believe they’re 75 years old!!!!

[dean]

The two symbols of liberty, freedom and defying the odds both flying together in peace. A peace they helped achieve. Incredible.

[StarSwarm.]

You could spend $500M on a new fighter jet and it would still pale in comparison and have nowhere near the cool factor of these old girls!

[maryrafuse]

The RCAF used the P-51D. A pilot we knew, years ago, called it the American Spitfire. Both are such magnificent aircraft. Love them equally.

[watsondove]

If your going to the wolfs lair jump in the mustang, if the wolfs at your door choose the spitfire

[busterdee]

When I was younger, I worked with a fellow who, in his seventies, was more fit than his grown kids. In WW2, he had been a P-51 candidate in one of several experimental 'rush' training programs. Taxiing deaths, and a glut of pilots, cancelled the programs. He was actually relieved to now be a combat engineer going into D-Day--but he never lost his love for that Merlin sound. We worked near the Naval Test Pilot School, which contracted a Mustang to broaden the test pilot candidate's experience. Unbelievably, my friend and I were the only ones in the building who knew that Merlin note. Whenever that Mustang was in the area, I would run to the parking lot--where he would already be standing in complete peace. As a side note, during our friendship, he received a letter complaining that the Garand he turned in was the wrong serial number. I'll paraphrase his reply: I had a bit of trouble swimming in the Channel and managed to misplace mine. When I met a fellow who didn't need his anymore, I borrowed it. The Government reply: sorry; we won't bother you anymore.

[distortedreality]

2 excellent aircraft! Love them both, but being British I'd have to pick the spitfire! What a fantastic noise they both make 👌

[sledgehammerk]

It’s interesting how these worked together in the European theater. Spitfires would escort the bomber formations across the channel where they would be picked up by P-38s and P-47s in France, which would escort them close to the German border. From there, the P-51 Mustangs would take over and escort them to the target. Kind of a bad ass relay race lol.

[chrisbradshaw]

Thank you to all the allied fighters of WW2 and their pilots.We would not have won that terrible war without them, the men and women who fought on the ground and the American and British navy.

[edcook]

One of the best vids of aircraft I have seen. No talking, no music, just great visuals and beautiful sound from two spectacular aircraft! Well done and thanks!!!!

[robertmarsh]

Wonderful. Great camera work of multiple passes, that fabulous V12 sound, no music, and pertinent subtitles. Thank you for sharing.

[georgejohnson]

Thank for this. These two fighters always fascinated me as much in terms of their difference of performance as anything else.

Both were significant and highly successful aeroplanes.

[HemlockRidge]

The Spitfire has that throaty growl, and I do like the whistle/whine that the Mustang makes.

[Andy-hbkl]

The Spitfire is a head turner, just like concorde was. It just has an aura.

Eric Brown summed it up nicely. He always preferred the Spitfire, but you couldn't fly to Berlin and back in a Spitfire.