To solve confusion from the outset, North American Aviation`s Twin Mustang became regarded through 3 specific designations. It became categorized because the P-eighty two whilst it first got here off the manufacturing line, however in National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) logs, it became called XF-eighty two. Then, in 1948, it became renamed the F-eighty two. Clear as mud? Well, allow's muddy it a bit similarly. Several specific variations have been made, from the P-82E, P-82F, and P-82G, to the changed C and D variations delivered at some point of the Korean War.
The P-eighty two became first of all advanced as a safety fighter aircraft able to escorting the big, high-altitude B-29 "Superfortress" heavy bombers on long-variety missions — some thing preceding short-variety opponents could not handle. According to americaA Air Force Museum, the Twin Mustang had more than a few simply above 2,2 hundred and a pinnacle velocity of four hundred MPH. However, different reassets declare it can cross as rapid as 482 miles according to hour with a cruising fee of 280.
To accommodate the long-variety nature of the missions whilst mitigating pilot fatigue, North American devised a brand new sort of dual growth aircraft that seated now no longer one however pilots, every of whom should manipulate the plane from their respective cockpits placed in every fuselage. This layout allowed one pilot to sleep whilst the alternative flew the aircraft and vice versa.
It's a bird... it is a aircraft... it is a Twin Mustang!
Despite searching like P-fifty one Mustangs welded together, in reality, it became a wholly new layout, a long way eliminated from preceding dual growth craft (i.e., P-38 Lighting). Mainly, it required designing a aircraft in which each pilots have been offset from the plane's middle line.
Various variations of the P-eighty two will be ready with an array of various munitions and armaments, along with gun pods full of as many as fourteen .50 quality Browning having system guns. Underwing hardpoints allowed the aircraft to hold heaps of kilos of bombs, High Velocity Aircraft and air-to-floor rockets, or even outside gas tanks to similarly its variety. One sortie might have it flying as a long-variety escort or reconnaissance aircraft, whilst the subsequent as an assault bomber, rocket fighter, or interceptor.
Ironically, the Twin Mustang by no means noticed any real World War II fight due to the fact North American Aviation could not supply any planes till early 1946, whilst the conflict became already over. However, its adaptability allow it flourish at some point of the Korean War and have become the primary American aircraft to shoot down North Korean plane — 3 to be exact — on June 27, 1950.
For instance, rather than a co-pilot or navigator, the F and G variations carried a radar operator. In fact, Air Defense Command placed radar gadget into the F-82Gs and started out the use of them as night time opponents rather than the retiring Northrop P-sixty one Black Widow.
While 500 of the P-82s have been ordered, North American handiest made approximately 250. The P-eighty two Twin Mustang became the last American piston-engine and propeller-pushed fighter bought through the Air Force.