P-51 Mustangs (World Fighter Aircraft Collection)

The P-51 Mustang was the definitive American fighter of World War Two.   In the mind of the American public it became one of the two emblematic aircraft of the war, the other being the B-17 Flying Fortress bomber.

As well as being a very effective fighter in a dogfight, the Mustang also had the huge advantage of great range, which allowed it to escort bombers from Great Britain all the way into Germany, and in the Pacific War from places like Iwo Jima to the Japanese mainland.

The early model P-51A, P-51B and P-51C all had a high back, but the P-51D introduced a "bubble" or "teardrop" canopy developed by the British, which allowed the pilot to see enemies approaching from behind.   The two P-51Ds shown here flying at the 2008Commemorative Air Force airshow in Midland, Texas, both have this type of canopy, though technically both aircraft are TF-51s, since they've both been fitted with a rear seat, like the training versions developed after World War Two.