• "Cadillac of the Sky" North American P-51 Mustang. - First flight: 26 October 1940 - Unit cost US$50,985 in 1945 (equivalent to $570,000 in 2018) The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang is an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II and the Korean War, among other conflicts. The Mustang was designed in April 1940 by a design team headed by James Kindelberger of North American Aviation (NAA) in response to a requirement of the British Purchasing Commission. The Purchasing Commission approached North American Aviation to build Curtiss P-40 fighters under license for the Royal Air Force (RAF). Rather than build an old design from another company, North American Aviation proposed the design and production of a more modern fighter. The prototype NA-73X airframe was rolled out on 9 September 1940, 102 days after the contract was signed, and first flew on 26 October • www.carandvintage.com By @georgelewisromain for @aircraftrestorationcompany #CarVintage #mustang #p51 #art #design #classic #vintage #plane #aviation #vintageaviation #usa #wwii #morningglory #airport #flight #air #freedom #heritage #cool