P-82/F-82 Twin Mustang
XP-82 prototype
Type	long range bomber escort
Manufacturer	North American Aviation
Maiden flight	6 July 1945
Introduced	1946
Retired	1953
Primary user	United States Air Force
Number built	270
Unit cost	US$215,154[1]
Developed from	P-51 Mustang

The second prototype North American XP-82 Twin Mustang (44-83887) being flight-tested at Muroc Army Air Base, California

The North American F-82 Twin Mustang was the last American piston engine fighter ordered into production by the United States Air Force. An aerospace manufacturer is a company or individual involved in the various aspects of designing building testing selling and maintaining Aircraft, Aircraft parts North American Aviation was a major US Aircraft manufacturer, responsible for a number of historic aircraft including the T-6 Texan trainer the The maiden flight of an Aircraft is the first occasion on which an aircraft leaves the ground of its own accord Events 1044 - The Battle of Ménfő takes place 1189 - Richard the Lionheart is crowned King of England This is a list of Aviation -related events from 1945: Events January January 1 - the Luftwaffe begins targeting This is a list of Aviation -related events from 1946: Events January January 1 - a British South American Airways This is a list of Aviation -related events from 1953: Events The first year in which the world's Airlines carried more than 50 million people ( Edwards Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located on the border of Kern County and Los Angeles County California in the Antelope North American Aviation was a major US Aircraft manufacturer, responsible for a number of historic aircraft including the T-6 Texan trainer the The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Based on the P-51 Mustang, the F-82 was originally designed as a long-range escort fighter in World War II, its postwar role changed to that of night-fighting. Radar-equipped F-82s were used quite extensively by the Air Defense Command as replacements for the P-61 Black Widow night fighter. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout A night fighter (also all-weather fighter) is a Fighter aircraft adapted for use at night or in other times of bad visibility During the Korean War, Japan-based F-82s were among the first USAF aircraft to operate over Korea. The Korean War refers to a period of military conflict between North Korean and South Korean regimes with major hostilities lasting from June 25 1950 until the The first three North Korean aircraft destroyed by U. S. forces were shot down by F-82s.

Design and development

Initially intended as a long-range escort fighter, the F-82 was designed to escort B-29 bombers on long missions over Japan during a planned U. The escort fighter was a World War II concept for a Fighter aircraft designed to escort Bombers to and from their targets S. invasion of the Japanese home islands that never materialized. It consisted of a two fuselage design, somewhat similar to the experimental German Messerschmitt Bf 109Z "Zwilling". Twin-boom aircraft have their Tailplanes and Vertical stabilizers mounted on the tail of either two Fuselages or on two booms fixed to either both sides WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout Although based on the P-51H Mustang, it was actually an entirely new design of Edgar Schmued incorporating two lengthened P-51H Mustang fuselages mounted to a newly-designed center wing, tail and propellers, as well as having a unique four wheel landing gear. Edgar Schmued, German-American aircraft designer (1899 - 1985 was famed for his design of the iconic P-51 Mustang and later the F-86 Sabre. Prototype YP-82s, P-82Bs and P-82Es retained both cockpits so that both pilots could fly the aircraft, alternating control on long flights, while later night fighter versions kept the cockpit on the left side only, placing the radar operator in the right position.

Although some P-82B airframes were completed before the end of World War II, most remained at the North American factory in California waiting for engines until 1946. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including As a result, none saw service during the war.

Like the P-51 Mustang, the first two prototype YP-82s, as well as the next 20 P-82B models were powered by British designed Rolls-Royce Merlin engines, built under licence by Packard. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout Packard was an American luxury Automobile marque built by the Packard Motor Car Company of Detroit Michigan, and later by the Studebaker-Packard Corporation These provided the fighter with excellent range and performance, but political pressure, as well as the increased licence fees demanded by Rolls-Royce forced North American to switch subsequent production P-82C and later models to the lower-powered Allison V-1710-100 engines. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout Allison powered P-82 models demonstrated a lower top speed and poorer high altitude performance than the earlier Merlin powered versions. The earlier P-82B models had been designated as trainers, while the "C" and later models were employed as fighters.

Operational service

Strategic Air Command 8th Air Force North American F-82E "Twin Mustangs" of the 27th Fighter Wing on the flightline of Kearney Air Force Base, Nebraska, 1948. Serials 46-322 and 46-332 are identifiable. Note buzz number near tail. A buzz number was a large letter and number combination applied to United States Air Force Military aircraft in the years immediately after World War II

North American F-82F Twin Mustang Serial 46-414 of the 27th Fighter Wing, Bergstrom AFB Texas in black night fighter motif

On 11 June 1948, the newly-formed United States Air Force eliminated the P-for-pursuit category and replaced it with F-for-fighter. For the civil use of this airfield after 1993 see Austin-Bergstrom International Airport Bergstrom Air Force Base (1942-1993 was a United Texas ( is a state geographically located in the South Central United States and is also known as the Lone Star State. Events 1184 BC - Trojan War: Troy is sacked and burned according to the calculations of Eratosthenes. Year 1948 ( MCMXLVIII) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the 1948 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Subsequently, all P-82s were re-designated F-82. The F-82E was the first model to reach operational squadrons and its initial operational assignment was to the 27th Fighter Wing at Kearney Air Force Base, Nebraska in 1948. Kearney Regional Airport, formerly known as Kearney Municipal Airport, is a public Airport located four miles (6 km) northeast of the Central Nebraska ( is a state located on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States and The 27th used the F-82E to fly long-range escort missions for SAC B-29 bombers. F-82Es continued to fly actively until 1953 escorting B-29s, B-50s and B-36s becoming Strategic Air Command's last operational piston-engined fighters. Year 1953 ( MCMLIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

However, the cessation of hostilities in World War II brought an end to the need for a long-range bomber escort though the F-82 would continue as a replacement for the aging P-61 Black Widow night fighter. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout

The night fighter versions, designated the F-82F/G, required numerous modifications to be made to make this possible. The right side cockpit was replaced with a radar operator's position lacking flight controls. More significant was the addition of a long radar pod attached to the underside of the center wing. Resembling a sausage, and irreverently known as a "long dong," the radar unit was installed in such a manner to keep its dish in front of aircraft's propellers. It was also necessary that it be hung from the underside of the wing to prevent it from interfering with six . 50 caliber machine guns buried in the center wing. Surprisingly, this unconventional arrangement did little to affect the aircraft's speed or performance. Additionally the unit could be jettisoned in an emergency, or for belly landings and was sometimes lost during high-G maneuvers.

The first F-82F/G models began to reach operational squadrons in late 1948. By the middle of 1949 the F-82 was in widespread service with some 225 E/F/G models being in use by the USAF at Bergstrom, Hamilton, McChord, Mitchel and McGuire AFB. For the civil use of this airfield after 1993 see Austin-Bergstrom International Airport Bergstrom Air Force Base (1942-1993 was a United Hamilton Air Force Base was a former United States Air Force base located along the northern shore of San Francisco Bay south of Novato, California McChord Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base in Pierce County Washington. McGuire Air Force Base is a United States Air Force Base under the operational control of the Air Mobility Command (AMC F-82Gs were also deployed to the 347th Fighter Group in Japan. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. Modified F-82s for cold weather (F-82Hs) were assigned to Ladd AFB, Alaska, and make a brief but memorable appearance in the movie "Top of the World. Ladd Army Airfield is the military airfield located at Fort Jonathan Wainwright, located in Fairbanks Alaska. Alaska ( Аляска Alyaska) is a state in the United States of America, in the northwest of the North American continent "^[2] (1955)

Korean War

See also: United States Air Force Aircraft of the Korean War

A fond farewell from his family, sends Air Force Capt. Johnnie Gosnell on another mission over Korea. Gosnell is a pilot flying with the 68th All-Weather Fighter Interceptor Squadron at an advanced U. S. Far East Air Forces base in Southern Japan.

Although missing its opportunity to fight in World War II, the F-82G would go on to distinguish itself during the Korean War. The Korean War refers to a period of military conflict between North Korean and South Korean regimes with major hostilities lasting from June 25 1950 until the In June 1950, U. S. forces in Seoul, South Korea were attempting to evacuate U. S. civilians, including many women and children, from the advancing North Korean Army. A total of 682 civilians had been evacuated on the 26 June aboard the Norwegian freighter Reinholte, then visiting Inchon Harbor and transported to Sasebo, Japan. Incheon is a metropolitan city and a major seaport on the west coast of South Korea, near Seoul. is a city located in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan.As of 2006 the city has an estimated Population of 258324 and the density of 709 The remaining civilians were to be evacuated the following day by an Air Force C-54. Fearing that the North Korean Air Force might try to shoot down the transport (a C-54 had been destroyed on the ground at Kimpo by North Korean fighters on June 25th) the Air Force requested air cover to protect the aircraft during takeoff. Gimpo is a city in Gyeonggi Province South Korea. It borders on Incheon, with which it shares the South Korean side of the Han River The F-80 Shooting Star was available, but its thirsty jet engine meant it could only remain over the airfield for a few minutes before having to return to base and no P-51 Mustangs were available. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout

Fortunately, the 4th and 339th Fighter All Weather Squadrons F(AW)S with their F-82Gs were based in Japan and Okinawa at Misawa and Yokota Airfields, and the 68th F(AW)S was based at Itazuke airfield. With Lt. Col. John F. Sharp in command, 27 F-82Gs of the 35 in the theater answered the call. Arriving in the early morning, they orbited Kimpo Airfield in three flights, each above the other. Suddenly, at 1150 hours, a mixed lot of five North Korean fighters (Soviet-built Yak-9s, Yak-11s and La-7s) appeared, heading for the airfield. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout One of the Yak-9s immediately scored several hits on 68th F(AW)S pilot Lt. Charles Moran's vertical stabilizer. Moments later, Lt. William G. "Skeeter" Hudson, also of the 68th F(AW)S, initiated a high-G turn to engage the Yak. Soon Hudson was closing in on the Yak's tail. He then fired a short burst at close range, scoring hits with his six . 50 caliber machine guns. The Yak banked hard to the right, with the F-82G in close pursuit. A second burst hit the Yak's right wing, setting the gas tank on fire and knocking off the right flap and aileron. The North Korean pilot bailed out, but his observer, who was either dead or badly wounded, remained in the doomed aircraft. Parachuting down to Kimpo Airfield, the North Korean pilot was immediately surrounded by South Korean soldiers. Surprisingly, he pulled out a pistol and began firing at them. The South Korean soldiers returned fire, killing the pilot. Moments later, Lt. Moran shot down an La-7 over the airfield, while a few miles away, Maj. James W. Little, commanding officer of the 339th F(AW)S, shot down another La-7. The C-54 was able to escape safely. Of five North Korean fighters, only two returned to their base. In the process, Lt. William G. "Skeeter" Hudson, with his radar operator Lt. Carl Fraiser had scored the first aerial "kill" of the Korean War.

It is generally believed that the aircraft Hudson and Fraiser flew that day was an F-82G named "Bucket of Bolts" (s/n 46-383), as their usual aircraft was down for repairs. "Bucket of Bolts" would survive the Korean War and eventually be reassigned to escort duty in Alaska. It is believed to have been scrapped at Ladd AFB, Alaska in 1953.

1951 was the last full year of F-82 operations in Korea, as they were gradually replaced by the jet-powered F-94 Starfire. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout Twin Mustangs destroyed 20 enemy aircraft, four in the air and 16 on the ground during the conflict. ^[1]

By summer 1952, the last surviving Korean War veteran F-82s were flown to Tachikawa, Japan to be upgraded to F-82H models with the addition of cold weather equipment and additional deicers. Many of these fighters would end up operating with Strategic Air Command from airfields in Alaska where they would serve as escorts for the massive Convair B-36 bombers during long flights over the Arctic, finally fulfilling their original mission as a bomber escort. The Strategic Air Command (SAC was both a major command and a "specified command" in the U Alaska ( Аляска Alyaska) is a state in the United States of America, in the northwest of the North American continent The F-82 did not disappear from USAF inventory until 1953, when a lack of parts and high airtime made it impossible to keep them flying. Many were ultimately scrapped in Alaska.

Record-setting

On 27 February 1947, a P-82B (44-65168) named Betty Jo and flown by Colonel Robert E. Thacker made history when it flew nonstop from Hawaii to New York without refueling, a distance of 5,051 miles in 14 hr 32 min (347. Events 1560 - The Treaty of Berwick, which would expel the French from Scotland, is signed by England and the Congregation Year 1947 ( MCMXLVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1947 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Colonel Robert E Thacker USAF (Ret (b 1918 is a retired Test pilot, a lifelong Model aircraft enthusiast one of the few pilots in history to do two tours of 5mph). To this day, it remains the longest nonstop flight ever made by a propeller-driven fighter (the record for the longest nonstop flight by a propeller-driven aircraft is held by the Rutan Voyager), and the fastest such a distance has ever been covered in a piston-engined aircraft. The Model 76 Voyager was the first Aircraft to fly around the world without stopping or refueling It should be noted that the aircraft chosen was the earlier "B" model powered by Rolls-Royce Merlin engines (see "Survivors" below).

Variants

NA-123

Basic Development design. The NA-123 design was presented by North American Aircraft to the USAAF in February 1944. The design for the new aircraft was for a long range fighter to penetrate deep into enemy territory. Its immediate role would be to escort the B-29 Superfortress bombers used in the Pacific Theater of Operations against Japan. The Pacific Theater of Operations (PTO was the World War II military activity in the Pacific Ocean and the countries bordering it a geographic scope For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. The USAAF endorsed it at once. A letter contract to construct and test four experimental XP-82 aircraft (P-82 designation) gave way in the same month to an order for 500 production models.

XP-82 / XP-82A

Prototype. The USAAF accepted the first XP-82 in August 1945 and a second one in September. Both were equipped with Packard Merlin V-1650-23 and -25 engines. The third experimental aircraft, designated XP-82A, had two Allison V-1710-119 engines. It was accepted in October 1945. There is no evidence that the XP-82A was ever actually flown, due to problems with the Allison engines. The fourth XP-82A prototype (44-83889) was cancelled.

At an early stage, it was suspected that once the war was over, the Packard Motor Car Company would be unlikely to continue the manufacture of V-1650 Merlin engines. Packard was an American luxury Automobile marque built by the Packard Motor Car Company of Detroit Michigan, and later by the Studebaker-Packard Corporation In addition, the British economy was severely crippled and Rolls Royce was forced to charge a substantial license fee for its Packard-built Merlin. For the present day company see Rolls-Royce plc. For other uses see Rolls-Royce (disambiguation. This increase, coupled with the Air Force's desire to develop US-designed liquid-cooled engines, led to the decision to switch to the Allison engine. Consequently, the V-1710-119 was specified for the third and fourth prototypes. All the remaining production F-82s ended up being powered by Allison engines.

P-82B

Planned production version. With the end of World War II, production plans were cut back significantly. Against the 500 P-82Bs initially planned, overall procurement was finalized on 7 December 1945 at 270 P-82s. Included were 20 P-82Bs already on firm order and later allocated to testing as P-82Z. The USAAF accepted all P-82Zs in fiscal year 1947. Two aircraft were accepted in January 1946, four in February 1947, and 13 in March 1947. By December 1949, no P-82Bs (by then redesignated F-82Bs) remained in the Air Force inventory. These P-82Bs were basically similar to the XP-82, but differed in having provisions for underwing racks.

P-82C 44-65169 in black night fighter motif. Note the large bulge that carries the radar array, under the wing.

P-82C

Night fighter version. A P-82B, (44-65169) modified in late 1946, for testing as a night interceptor. The P-82C featured a new nacelle (under the center wing section) housing an SCR-720 radar. The SCR-720 was the same radar installation which was carried aboard the Northrop P-61 Black Widow, a considerably larger aircraft which had clearance problems with the engine propellers. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout The right-hand cockpit became the radar operator's position. The production version was designated P-82F.

P-82D

Night fighter version. Another P-82B (44-65170) modified with a different radar, the APS-4. The APS-4 was a much smaller set than the SCR-720, and operated in the three cm waveband. As like the P-82C, the right-hand cockpit became the radar operator's position. The production version was designated P-82G.

P-82E

Escort fighter version. The F-82E followed the F-82B, which it so closely resembled. They were equipped with two counter-rotating Allison liquid-cooled engines, V-1710-143 and V-1710-145. The first four F-82Es were redesignated as F-82As and were allocated for engine testing. After production delays by engine problems and additional testing, F-82Es entered operational service in May 1948. The Air Force accepted 72 F-82Es in fiscal year 1948 (between January and June 1948), and 24 in fiscal year 1949 (22 in July 1948, one in October, and one in December). F-82Es quickly disappeared from the SAC inventory. The first sizable lot was declared surplus in March 1950.

North American F-82F Twin Mustang night fighter Serial 46-415

P-82F/G/H

Night fighter versions. A nacelle beneath the center-wing that housed radar equipment (F-82F's ANIAPG28 and F-82G's SCR-720C18); automatic pilot; and a radar operator replacing the second pilot. When winterization was added to the F or G, it became an F-82H. Entered operational service in September 1948. One F-82G was accepted in fiscal year 1948 (February 1948), all other F-82s (F, G, and H models) in fiscal year 1949. The last F-82G and six winterized F-82Hs were received in March 1949. In mid-1950, Air Defense units began trading F-82s for F-94s, and in early 1951, the few Twin-Mustangs remaining in ADC were towing targets. The F-82s coming out of Korean combat in February 1952 lingered a bit longer in the inventory. After June 1953, no F-82s appeared on Air Force, Air National Guard or Air Reserve Forces rolls.

Production totals (F-82)

The Air Force accepted a total of 272 F-82s (including 22 prototype, test and early production aircraft). Models and serials were as follows:

• 44-83886/83887 North American XP-82 Twin Mustang
• 44-83888/83889 North American XP-82A Twin Mustang
• 44-65160/65168 North American P-82B Twin Mustang
• 44-65169 North American P-82C Twin Mustang
  Conversion of tenth P-82B
• 44-65170 North American P-82D Twin Mustang
  Conversion of 11th P-82B
• 44-65171/65179 North American P-82B Twin Mustang
• 46-255/354 North American P-82E Twin Mustang
• 46-405/495 North American P-82F Twin Mustang
• 46-355/383 North American P-82G Twin Mustang
• 46-389/404 North American P-82G Twin Mustang
• 46-384/388 North American P-82H Twin Mustang
• 46-496/504 North American P-82H Twin Mustang

All examples were redesignated as F-82 in 1948. Specifically, the F-82 program consisted of two XF-82s, one XF-82A, ten F-82Bs (known for a while as P-82Zs and all allocated to testing), four F-82As, 96 F-82Es, 91 F-82Fs, 45 F-82Gs and 14 F-82Hs.

One F-82G was accepted in fiscal year 1948 (February 1948), all other F-82s (F, G, and H models) in fiscal year 1949. The last F-82G and six winterized F-82Hs were received in March 1949.

Operators

 United States

• United States Army Air Force
  • 51st Fighter Wing
    • 4th Fighter (All Weather) Squadron

• United States Air Force
  • 27th Fighter Wing operated F-82E between 1948 and 1950. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The United States Army Air Forces ( USAAF) was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II. The 51st Fighter Wing (51 FW is a wing of the United States Air Force and the host unit at Osan Air Base, South Korea. The 27th Special Operations Wing ( 27 SOW) is a United States Air Force unit and the host wing at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico.
    • 522nd Fighter (All Weather) Squadron
    • 523rd Fighter (All Weather) Squadron
    • 524th Fighter (All Weather) Squadron
  • 51st Fighter Wing operated F-82F/G between 1949 and 1950. The 51st Fighter Wing (51 FW is a wing of the United States Air Force and the host unit at Osan Air Base, South Korea.
    • 4th Fighter (All Weather) Squadron was assigned to 347th Fighter Group effective 20 February 1947, but attached to 51st Fighter Group 20 February 1947 - 24 June 1950. Squadron permanently reassigned to 6302d Air Base Group, 20 September 1950.
    • 16th Fighter (All Weather) Squadron
    • 25th Fighter (All Weather) Squadron
    • 26th Fighter (All Weather) Squadron
  • 52d Fighter Wing operated F-82F/G between 1948-1950. The 52d Fighter Wing ( 52 FW) is a wing of the United States Air Force stationed at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany.
    • 2d Fighter (All Weather) Squadron
    • 5th Fighter (All Weather) Squadron
  • 325th Fighter Wing operated F-82F/G between 1948-1950. The 325th Fighter Wing ( 325 FW) is a wing of the United States Air Force based out of Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida.
    • 317th Fighter (All Weather) Squadron
    • 318th Fighter (All Weather) Squadron
    • 319th Fighter (All Weather) Squadron
  • 347th Fighter Wing operated F-82F/G between 1949-1950. The United States Air Force 's 347th Rescue Wing is an inactive combat Search and rescue unit last assigned to Moody AFB, Georgia.
    • 4th Fighter (All Weather) Squadron was assigned to 347th Fighter Group effective 20 February 1947, but attached to 51st Fighter Group 20 February 1947 - 24 June 1950. Squadron served in combat during the Korean War permanently reassigned to 6302d Air Base Group (20 September 1950 - 24 June 1951), later to 6351st Air Base Wing (25 June 1951 – 1952). The Korean War refers to a period of military conflict between North Korean and South Korean regimes with major hostilities lasting from June 25 1950 until the
    • 68th Fighter (All Weather) Squadron served in combat during the Korean War assigned to 8th Fighter-Bomber Group (1 March - 1 December 1950), later to 51st Fighter-Interceptor Group (25 September - 9 October 1950).
    • 339th Fighter (All Weather) Squadron served in combat during the Korean War assigned to 8th Fighter-Bomber Group (26 June - 5 July 1950), later to 35th Fighter-Interceptor Group (6 July - 1 December 1950).
  • 5001st Composite Wing operated F-82H between 1949-1953.
    • 449th Fighter (All Weather) Squadron

Survivors

Five F-82s are known to still exist.

• F-82B "Betty Jo" (44-65186) is currently on display at The National Museum of the United States Air Force, in Dayton, Ohio in its Cold War gallery. The National Museum of the United States Air Force (formerly the United States Air Force Museum) is the official National Museum of the United States Air Dayton is a city in southwestern Ohio, United States. It is the County seat and largest city of Montgomery County. The aircraft is displayed in the markings of its historic Hawaii to New York flight in 1947, along with clothing and artifacts used in that record-breaking flight. The State of Hawaii ( or həˈwaɪʔiː Hawaiian: Mokuāina o Hawaii) is a state in the United States located on an Archipelago in the New York ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous Year 1947 ( MCMXLVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1947 calendar of the Gregorian calendar.
• F-82E (46-262) has been a "gate guard" for many years outside Lackland AFB in Texas as part of the USAF History and Traditions Museum in San Antonio, Texas.
• A second F-82B (44-65162) that had been on display next to it, was acquired by the former Confederate Air Force in 1966 and was operated for many years by its Midland, Texas squadron. The Commemorative Air Force (CAF, formerly known as the Confederate Air Force, is a Texas -based Non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and That F-82B stalled while landing in Harlingen, Texas in 1987. The aircraft was restorable but its unique props and landing gear were destroyed in the crash and replacement parts could not be obtained. In 2002, the CAF included it with a crashed P-38 in a trade for a flyable P-38. The USAF stepped in and demanded the F-82 be returned since it was only loaned to the CAF on the condition that the CAF keep it. The matter has now been resolved in favour of the Commemorative Air Force (the renamed organization). The Commemorative Air Force (CAF, formerly known as the Confederate Air Force, is a Texas -based Non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and This aircraft is now located in California where recent efforts have been made to restore it back to flying condition.
• A single fuselage and parts of the second XP-82 (44-83887) were located for many years on the farm of Walter Soplata in Newbury, Ohio. this aircraft was in March, 2008 to Tom Reilly. On April 7th, 2008 the almost-complete left fuselage was delivered to Reilly's restoration facility in Douglas, GA along with various surviving components from Soplata's farm. Reilly plans to use the left fuselage to reverse-engineer a matching right airframe, and hopes to eventually restore the aircraft to flying condition.
• F-82E (46-256), an intact airframe also formerly located at the Walter Soplata farm, has been sold and moved to C&P Aviation in Anoka, MN, where it is currently undergoing restoration to flying status.

Specifications (F-82G)

Data from GlobalSecurity. org^[3]

General characteristics

• Crew: 2
• Length: 42 ft 9 in (12. 93 m)
• Wingspan: 51 ft 3 in (15. The wingspan (or just span) of an airplane or a Bird, is the distance from the left wingtip to the right wingtip 62 m)
• Height: 13 ft 10 in (4. 22 m)
• Wing area: 408 ft² (37. 90 m²)
• Empty weight: 15,997 lb (7,271 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 25,591 lb (11,632 kg)
• Powerplant: 2× 2 rolls royce merlin engines, 1,600 hp (1,200 kW each) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 400 knots (460 mph, 740 km/h) at 21,000 ft (6,400 m)
• Range: 1,950 nm (2,250 mi, 3,605 km)
• Service ceiling 38,900 ft (11,855 m)

Armament

• Guns: 6× .50 in (12. The Maximum Takeoff Weight or Maximum Takeoff Mass of an Aircraft is the maximum weight at which the pilot of the aircraft is allowed to attempt to take off In Aviation, V-speeds or Velocity-speeds are standard terms used to define Airspeeds important or useful to the operation of Aircraft, such The maximal total range is the distance an Aircraft can fly between Takeoff and Landing, as limited by fuel capacity in powered aircraft or cross-country In Aeronautics, a ceiling is the maximum Density altitude an aircraft can reach under a set of conditions 7 mm) Browning M2 machine guns
• Rockets: 25× 5 in (127 mm) rockets
• Bombs: 4,000 lb (1,800 kg)

See also

Related development

• P-51 Mustang
  

Comparable aircraft

• de Havilland Mosquito
• F7F Tigercat
• Heinkel He 111Z - another "twinned" aircraft
• Heinkel He 219
• Messerschmitt Bf 109Z - also a "twin" aircraft
• Messerschmitt Me 609
• P-61 Black Widow
  

References

Notes

Bibliography

External links

• F-82 Twin Mustang
• North American F-82 Twin Mustang