<P> The Mustang was originally designed to use the Allison V - 1710 engine , which , in its earlier variants , had limited high - altitude performance . It was first flown operationally by the RAF as a tactical - reconnaissance aircraft and fighter - bomber ( Mustang Mk I ) . The replacement of the Allison with a Rolls - Royce Merlin resulted in the P - 51B / C ( Mustang Mk III ) model and transformed the Mustang 's performance at altitudes above 15,000 ft , allowing the aircraft to compete with the Luftwaffe 's fighters . The definitive version , the P - 51D , was powered by the Packard V - 1650 - 7 , a license - built version of the Rolls - Royce Merlin 66 two - stage two - speed supercharged engine and was armed with six . 50 caliber ( 12.7 mm ) M2 / AN Browning machine guns . </P>
<P> The Mustang was originally designed to use the Allison V - 1710 engine , which , in its earlier variants , had limited high - altitude performance . It was first flown operationally by the RAF as a tactical - reconnaissance aircraft and fighter - bomber ( Mustang Mk I ) . The replacement of the Allison with a Rolls - Royce Merlin resulted in the P - 51B / C ( Mustang Mk III ) model and transformed the Mustang 's performance at altitudes above 15,000 ft , allowing the aircraft to compete with the Luftwaffe 's fighters . The definitive version , the P - 51D , was powered by the Packard V - 1650 - 7 , a license - built version of the Rolls - Royce Merlin 66 two - stage two - speed supercharged engine and was armed with six . 50 caliber ( 12.7 mm ) M2 / AN Browning machine guns . </P>
who made the engine for the p 51 mustang
who made the engine for the p 51 mustang
Allison Rolls - Royce Packard
Allison Rolls - Royce Packard