P-51 was:
fast
very fast sustained cruise speed (for a piston plane)
Very maneuverable, better than most Luftwhiners believe.
VERY inexpensive.
Very good range.
Good if not excellent weapons platform.
Excellent vsability in D models and later.
Maybe the best high speed maneuverability of any piston plane of WWII.
At least on a par with any in dive.
At true combat weights it also posessed reasonably good climb and turn rates.
As the combat reports at Spitfireperformance.com indicate, it was truly
a world beater in it's day.
http://www.spitfireperformance.com/m...t-reports.html
Sergio

