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Message: <blockquote data-quote="EwenS" data-source="post: 499470" data-attributes="member: 4253">Merlin powered Mustang in 1940-41? Few questions.How can production be speeded up? Contract for the prototype only signed in May 1940 after resolving a few difficulties with the US Govt. It flew on 26 Oct 1940 with first production aircraft in April 1941. It takes about 5 months from factory door to front line for delivery. Actual service entry was Feb 1942. Can't see that being shortened much. Put a Merlin in and you get further delays while it is developed.Is it worth it at that time? Allison V-1710 v two speed single stage Merlin 45 engine any major benefit to performance. Maybe lifts it from 15,000 to 20,000 ft. The two speed two stage Merlin 61 doesn't enter production until March 1942. That is what really boosts the Mustang's performance. Development of the Merlin 61 powered Mustang started with an idea in April 1942.Where are Merlin engines going to come from? UK production is being fully utilised unless you are going to cancel some Merlin engined type in Britain (Halifax, Beaufighter II, Spitfire, Hurricane or Defiant?). Lancaster adds to demand (prototype Jan 1941. First production aircraft Oct 1941). But you want the heavy bombers for Coastal Command.Packard signed a licence agreement for Merlin Production in Sept 1940 (after Ford turned down the opportunity - several months wasted). First engines (single stage) don't appear until Aug 1941 (two stage for the P-51B is an expansion of production in mid-1943)</blockquote>

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