How Does a WW2-era Fighter Fare Up Against a Modern Jet?
Who would win in a dog fight; a World War II-era fighter or a modern-day fighter jet? Before we answer this question let's explore the two aircraft.
For the World War II aircraft, we have the P-51 Mustang which was widely considered one of the best fighters of its time boasting a powerful Rolls Royce Merlin engine. It has a top speed of over 400 mph (111 km/h) which has brought it many victories in the past. It was one of the few Allied aircraft to actually knock some of the first jets, the Me 262, out of the air.
Its contender, the modern F-35, has a suite of onboard technologies that help make it near-invisible to electronic sensors and is armed with racks of missiles and a 0.98-in (25-mm) cannon. It clocks in at a top speed of around 1,200 mph (1,931 km/h), making it significantly faster than the P-51.
So what would happen if we battled the two jets against each other? Clearly one is much speedier than the other. Would that guarantee a win in the battle of the aircraft? What traits does the P-51 have that could redeem it? We answer all these questions and more in our video.