The P-51D Mustang is the iconic WWII fighter, long-nose tailwheel airplane with a 12-cylinder Merlin out front and minimal forward visibility on the ground. Three-point landings are tradition; wheel landings are also fine. Either way, the Mustang demands rudder attention from before touchdown to after the prop stops.
Landing technique
- Plan the approach to cross the edge of the field at 120 mph (104 kt), per the pilot's manual; add about 20 mph at heavy weights.
- S-turn on final to maintain runway visibility past the long nose.
- Three-point landing: full stall just above the runway, all three points touch simultaneously.
- Wheel landing: mains-only contact, ease stick forward as wheels touch, hold tail up until rudder authority decays, then let tail settle.
- Aggressive rudder on rollout, the Mustang's torque + ground geometry make it want to swerve.
Common mistakes
- Loss of directional control after touchdown. Most common Mustang ground accident. Rudder is not optional.
- Bouncing a wheel landing, push forward as the wheels touch.
- Floating from too much approach speed, slow it down on short final.
Aircraft data
- Manufacturer
- North American
- Model
- P-51
- Variant
- D Mustang
- FAA approach category
- B
- MTOW
- 5579 kg (12300 lbs)
- Vref reference
- 104 kt at 4,082 kg
- Vref in flight
- Adjusted to the weight you land at
- Tail-strike limit
- 13°
- Ideal touchdown zone
- 50–250 m
- G-force curve
- The category's
- MSFS source
- Default Std
- FLARE matches
- North American P-51 D Mustang · P-51 D Mustang · P-51D Mustang
Related reading
- → How FLARE grades a landing · the composite formula behind every score
- → What "stabilized approach" actually means · the gates, the criteria, the technique
- → Light Warbird scoring thresholds · the category curves applied to this airframe
- → Full scoring methodology reference · the complete breakdown in the help docs