Warbird Information Exchange

I seem to remember reading somewhere that the vent panel on the nose was louvered on the K model instead of just having a bunch of holes like on the D model.

Elwyn

the detail you describe is not a production standard, but was observed on aircraft in service with the RAF - I have dozens of production photos of P-51K's and none shows this modification. Also aircraft during delivery don't show the louvred panel - so it seems to be a British modification.



Martin

Quite a lot of these Mustangs were used in the Italian theatre and in common with the German fighters I suppose every opportunity to aireate the engine or anything else for that matter in the summer months was vital.

I think other aircraft also suffered from the Med summers and were unsuitable for use. For example the Aerocobra was prone to overheating if run up and stood too long before take off, things allegedly corrected in the Kingcobra with larger intakes etc.

I also note that the RAF and RAAF at Woomera in Australia had to run up and get off before dawn to avoid overheating. That went for most of the types used P51's, Shackletons, various transports etc.

Thanks for the clarification.

But isn't that the alternate air source for the intake trunk? Maybe it was less likely to pick up dirt that way?

That is the "unrammed filtered air" inlet. Basically a plate shuts off the ram air below the spinner and air enters the normally perforated or in this case louvered panels, through the removable filters, then through another door back into the induction system. Not quite sure why they'd be louvered?
Interesting...
Mike

Here is an explanation taken from a post at the hyperscale site.

One point that should be noted is re those intake louvres.

Several close-up photos I have seen show that they do not replace the intake panels with the rows of drilled holes, but a welded (or whatever) directly over them.

That is the holes are clearly still there behind the metal louvres. The louvres were reputedly designed to create an area of lower pressure in the airflow around them, which caused additional cooling air to be sucked in through the holes.

As Terry said just why some RAF machines have them and others not is a mystery. Photos of 3 Sqn RAAF machines which I have studied in detail show both louvres and un-louvred machines being operated alongside each other.

Steve

In field mod? One of those things that gets done by the erks when they have the time? Or perhaps a mod done to later aircraft prior to ferry to an operational unit, based on operational findings?

With the louvres being welded over the standard fitting, would these have been of any use in preventing foreign matter kicked up by the prop when operating off PSP?

Cheers

Andy

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