PART THREE

 North American P51 Mustang . The most famous US fighter of WW2 originated from an english specify of the April 1940. The project NA73X was completed in less than 120 days, but the Allison engine was ready with a light delay and the prototype flew 2 months later the programmed day. The testings revealed a plane without problems and the first series exemplar (Mustang Mk.I) flew on 1th May 1941. The initial model demonstrated to be excellent at low quotes, but the engine ´s performances rapidly decreased above the 3600 meter, so the english utilized it mainly as a recon and ground support plane. Also valutated by the USAAC as XP-51, the Mustang was given a Rolls-Royce Merlin engine. The exceptional performances that followed this choose launched its big-scale production of the P-51B and C, while the P-51D, with modified cockpit and 6 machine guns was the version that defined the final configuration. Built on license also in Australia, the Mustang remained in service in USA until 1957 and in many other countries until ´60s. Derivated from the P-51 was the P-82, built on a couple of 2 P-51 fuselages to obtain a long-range heavy fighter (this plane was used in Korea). The last Mustang could be considerated the PA-38 Enforcer, proposed without success by the Piper ( that had upvhealed the project from Cavalier ) at the beginning of ´80s

Polikarpov I16 Ishak . The TsKB-12 project about a monoplane fighter was started by Polikarpov tech. office in spring of 1933. Characterised by an excellent climb-rate and a good speed, the plane was authorized to mass production with the I-16 denomination. The need of having an adequate motorization, as happened with the I-15 biplane series, took the plane to a continue run to have a better engine , eventually arrived with the M-63 Radial in 1939. As the I-15s, also the I-16 had a role in Spanish Civil War, in China and in the first parts of WW2. Even if in 1941 the plane was obsolete, it was utilized against the Germans and took heavy losses. The last I-16 remained in service until spring 1943.

Tupolev TB3 . Designed in 1930 as a new generation plane, the Tupolev ANT-6, designated TB-3 by Soviet Air Force, it was an entirely metallic monoplane quadrimotor, and was considered the more advanced heavy bomber of its time. The production began in 1931 and continued for 5 years, with a record of exemplars built for that time. The TB-3 was used in combat against Japanese forces in 1938-39 and was also employed as transport. When Germans attacked in 1941, the plane was still in service, but with secondary roles ( transport, paratroops transport, glider transport and night bombing ). It was also actively employed to transport and launch two Polikarpov SPB fighters to attack enemy targets.

 Writed by TAGLIA