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The Pilots Desk
Fighters1945 fighter aircraft series

North American F-82 Twin Mustang

North American F-82 Twin Mustang

The North American F-82 Twin Mustang is an American long-range escort fighter. Based on the North American P-51 Mustang, the F-82 was designed as an escort for the Boeing B-29 Superfortress in World War II, but the war ended well before the first production units were operational. The F-82 was the last American piston-engined fighter ordered into production by the United States Air Force. In the postwar era, Strategic Air Command used the aircraft as a long-range escort fighter. Radar-equipped F-82s were used extensively by the Air Defense Command as replacements for the Northrop P-61 Black Widow as all-weather day/night interceptors. During the Korean War, Japan-based F-82s were among the first USAF aircraft to operate over Korea. The first three North Korean aircraft destroyed by U.S. forces were shot down by F-82s, the first being a North Korean Yak-11 downed over Gimpo Airfield by the USAF 68th Fighter Squadron.

Summary from Wikipedia, photo via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA.

Category
Fighters
Country of origin
United States
First flight
1945-06-15

Specifications

Cruise speed
249 kt
Max speed
401 kt
Range
1,950 nm
Service ceiling
38,900 ft
Max takeoff weight
25,591 lb
Empty weight
15,997 lb
Fuel capacity
576 US gal
Powerplant
Allison V-1710-143/V-1710-145
Engines
2
Seats
2
Length
39.4 ft
Wingspan
51.3 ft
Height
11.8 ft
Number built
273

Specifications are approximate and may vary by variant. Compiled from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).

Reference and training only. Specifications vary by variant — consult the manufacturer and the official documents.