Many years ago, I was at lunch with someone from Van’s (might have been The Man himself, but I don’t want to actually put words in his mouth) who said “The RV-8 flies like most people THINK a Mustang flies!” The implication was that there is actually quite a bit of difference, and now I can confirm it. Last week I got a chance to fly the new Scalewings SW-51 Carbon Fiber 70% Mustang replica for the magazine, and in order to do a full evaluation, I felt it was important to go fly a real P-51 to get a good comparison. That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it!
Jim Rust (Whirlwind Propellor proprietor and chief engineer) happens to have access to a P-51D with a back seat, and offered a rare chance to go get some stick time. After watching his outstanding handling of his engine failure at Reno a few weeks ago, I was happy to fly with him!
To read about the Scalewings bird, and how it compares to the P-51, you’ll have to wait for the magazine to come out, but I can give a little “bonus eval” for all the RV-8 drivers here on VAF.
Bottom line - the RV-8 is a light, nimble machine compared to the truck-like handling qualities of the P-51. You’d sort of expect that when you look at 1200 horsepower versus 180 (or 200), and the gross weight difference of 8,000 lbs versus 1800. The Mustang will go wherever you put it, and flies nice large aerobatic figures - so long as you have the muscle for it!
The Mustang’s cockpit is very similar in size to the RV-8 - I felt I had about the same amount of room in either the front or rear seats as compared to their counterparts in the -8. This despite the fact that the P-51 is a HUGE airplane by comparison - heck, the prop alone is 11 feet in diameter! To get in, you mountaineer your way up the front main gear and on to the wing, and get off by sliding down the extended flap when you’re done flying. Why do we park RV’s with the flaps down? Because Mustangs did it…..
Fuel burn? 60 gph in round numbers in cruise for the Mustang. I get about 8.5 when LOP in my -8 at altitude. Of course, I’m going nowhere nearly as fast. Initial climb in the Mustang was about 4,000 fpm I think - it was so noisy at 55 inches of boost, I couldn’t ask, and couldn’t see the instruments from the back. The -8 will do about 2,000.
So yeah - the RV-8 does fly the way folks THINK the P-51 flies - but in truth, it is much easier handling, burns less gas, fits in an average hangar, and doesn’t require a tractor to move around on the ground. If someone gave me a Mustang and paid for my fuel (and maintenance) would I trade in my RV-8? Probably…but then, I still have an RV-3 for fingertip flying when I don’t feel the need for weightlifting……
Paul