F-16 Fighting Falcon vs. P-51 Mustang

[Kryptid]

The title makes this sound like a joke topic, but there's more to it than that. This isn't a one-on-one. That would be ridiculous.

How many P-51's would it take to kill a single F-16 (model of your choice)? Could any number pull it off or would the F-16 be able to kill any number of P-51's thrown at it consistently until it ran out of weapons or fuel? What if the only weapon on the F-16 was its gun? How many P-51's could the F-16 take down before it ran out of ammunition or was killed itself?

I know this would be quite a massive slaughtering, but it would be interesting to hear what might happen.

[avon1944]

This problem was face by the Dominican Republic Air Force (FAD). A Cuban merchant vessel violated Dominican waters and the Dominican authorities forced the vessel into Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic. The vessel was not released at the request of the Cuban Government. So a major regional show of force occurred in September 10, 1977, when a squadron of MiG-21MF's fighters overflew Dominican airspace and harassed the local air defenders. The "Fuerza Aérea Dominicana" -Dominican Air Force F-51D Mustang fighters tried to intercept the MiG's, but were humiliated by the modern Mach 2 fighters. The Dominican Republic quickly negotiated a release of the Cuban vessel ship that had violated its waters.

[Guysmiley]

Silly but amusing to think about topic

An F-16 up against P-51s would have the luxury of completely dictating the engagement. Guns only, prolly around 8-10 "blurps" from the cannon before running out of ammo? An on-target 1/2 second burst is all it would take to down a P-51.

The only time a P-51 would be a threat is when the F-16 is on final approach or actually on the ground.

[avon1944]

The only time a P-51 would be a threat is when the F-16 is on final approach or actually on the ground.

Hey, how many Me-262's were killed that way!

[sprstdlyscottsmn]

more than killed in the air?

[callsignthumper]

Come on guys how you going to dissrespect the finest fighter ever made. LOL interesting topic though. Only prob the Mustang had, was the fuel tank mounted behind the pilot. Made the plane handle wierd when it was full. Depends if you can mount what type of radar, and missle system on it, lol imagine a pheonix missle on one lol.

[southernphantom]

Anyone remember hearing about RN F-4Ks fighting P-51s? No gun, old-model AIM-9s against a PISTON engine...sigh.

[sprstdlyscottsmn]

Now THAT is a fight with no winner! Phantom goes Bingo fuel and flies home.

[thestealthfighterguy]

Hide on the deck and hope he's bingo fuel before he see me. Then follow him home as best I could and shoot him sitting next to the fuel truck. If that didn't work I think I'd just die. TSFG

[avon1944]

Only prob the Mustang had, was the fuel tank mounted behind the pilot. Made the plane handle wierd when it was full.

Yes, the P-51 Mustang was designed just wing tanks which held 110gal. each! Some one got the idea being there was a huge cavity behind the pilot's seat, why not put a fuel tank. They tried a small tank but, the improvement was not great. They decided to try the maximum size tank the could be fitted. That turned out it great for increasing the range.
When the pilot started his engine, the P-51 had 440-gallons of fuel. He used fuel from the main that fuel tank until it was below 45-gal. The P-51 was very unstable until the main used the forty gallons. The operation manual instructed to fly straight and level until that point, the plane was very unstable until then. Then they switched to the drop tanks and use all the fuel in them. By then they were near Berlin, etc. whether they took-off from England or Italy. Just before combat starts, the drop tanks were jettisoned... hopefully completely empty. Combat started & finished then escort the bombers home with 45-gal. main tank and the two 110-gal. wing tanks.

The movie "Red Tails" is something I am looking forward to. I am 'just' little bias, my adopted father Lt. Stanley Harris was a Tuskegee Airmen!