The Mustang was originally designed to use the Allison V-1710 engine of the P-40, which had limited high-altitude performance. It was first flown operationally by the Royal Air Force (RAF) as a tactical-reconnaissance aircraft and fighter-bomber (Mustang Mk I). The addition of the Rolls-Royce Merlin to the P-51B/C model transformed the Mustang's performance at altitudes above 15,000 ft, matching or bettering that of the Luftwaffe's fighters. The definitive version, the P-51D, was powered by the Packard V-1650-7, a license-built version of the Rolls-Royce Merlin 60 series two-stage two-speed supercharged engine, and armed with six .50 caliber (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine guns. From late 1943, P-51Bs (supplemented by P-51Ds from mid-1944) were used by the USAAF's Eighth Air Force to escort bombers in raids over Germany, while the RAF's 2 TAF and the USAAF's Ninth Air Force used the Merlin-powered Mustangs as fighter-bombers, roles in which the Mustang helped ensure Allied air superiority in 1944. The P-51 was also used by Allied air forces in the North African, Mediterranean and Italian theaters, and saw limited service against the Japanese in the Pacific War. During World War II, Mustang pilots claimed 4,950 enemy aircraft shot down. In November 1944, 3 Squadron RAAF became the first Royal Australian Air Force unit to use Mustangs. At the time of its conversion from the P-40 to the Mustang the squadron was based in Italy with the RAF's First Tactical Air Force. 3 Squadron was renumbered 4 Squadron after returning to Australia from Italy and converted to P-51Ds. Several other Australian or Pacific based squadrons converted to either CAC-built Mustangs or to imported P-51Ks from July 1945, having been equipped with P-40s or Boomerangs for wartime service; these units were: 76, 77, 82, 83, 84 and 86 Squadrons. Only 17 Mustangs reached the RAAF's First Tactical Air Force front line squadrons by the time World War II ended in August 1945. 76, 77 and 82 Squadrons were formed into 81 Fighter Wing of the British Commonwealth Air Force (BCAIR) which was part of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force (BCOF) stationed in Japan from February 1946. 77 Squadron used its P-51s extensively during the first months of the Korean War, before converting to Gloster Meteor jets. Five reserve units from the Citizen Air Force (CAF) also operated Mustangs. 21 "City of Melbourne" Squadron, based in the state of Victoria; 22 "City of Sydney" Squadron, based in New South Wales; 23 "City of Brisbane" Squadron, based in Queensland; 24 "City of Adelaide" Squadron, based in South Australia; and 25 "City of Perth" Squadron, based in Western Australia; all of these units were equipped with CAC Mustangs, rather than P-51D or Ks. The last Mustangs were retired from these units in 1960 when CAF units adopted a non-flying role. – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_P-51_Mustang_variants#Australian_Production
The Pilot: Matt Hall (born 16 September 1971 in Newcastle, Australia) is a third-generation pilot, a former Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) fighter combat instructor, international unlimited aerobatic competitor and the first Australian to be selected to compete in the Red Bull Air Race World Championship, starting in 2009. He won the championship in the final season of Red Bull Air Race in 2019. Flying history Hall has a long flying history, having started flying with his father at an early age. He is a third-generation pilot, his grandfather having flown in World War II. As a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) fighter pilot, Hall logged over 1500 F/A-18 Hornet hours. As a Fighter Combat Instructor, in 2006 he completed a tour as the chief instructor for this demanding course. He has received many awards during his military career, including Dux of Pilot, F/A-18 Hornet and Fighter Combat Instructor courses, the 1997 Fighter Pilot of the Year, and he was awarded a Chief of Air Force commendation for his performance as the Chief Instructor of the 2006 Fighter Combat Instructor course. Hall spent three years in the United States of America on a USAF exchange programme, flying over 500 hours in the F-15E Strike Eagle, including combat. For his efforts, he was awarded combat decorations by both the US and Australia. He resigned from the RAAF to allow him to become a full-time race pilot. Hall has flown aerobatics for many years, becoming more serious about competition and display aerobatics whilst on his military exchange in the USA. He travelled widely to air shows, fly-ins and aerobatic competitions, and was inspired by performances at the 2003 World Aerobatic Championships (WAC) in Florida. Through involvement at competitions and as a member of the International Aerobatic Club, he was able to be coached and mentored by many of the top US competitors and performers. In September 2008, he successfully completed the Red Bull Air Race Qualification Camp, becoming the first Australian to be awarded the coveted Red Bull Air Race Super Licence. Finally, in November 2008 he heard the news that he was selected to join Red Bull Air Race World Championship circuit in 2009. The Plane: The MXS is a single-seat aerobatic aircraft made of carbon fiber and built by MX Aircraft, a manufacturer located in North Carolina. The MXS-R is a race variant flown by several pilots in the Red Bull Air Race World Championship. The planes are all-composite in construction, piston-powered, low-wing monoplanes. They are produced both in kit form for amateur construction, and completed ready to fly at the factory. The two-seat version is called the MX2 and has reached notable fame, becoming vice-world aerobatics advanced champion in 2010. There are only 12 MXS' in existence. General characteristics: Crew: one pilot Capacity: one (pilot only) Length: (21.35ft) Wingspan: (24 ft) Height: (6 ft) Fuel capacity: 219.55 litre (58 US gal) (optional long range 295.26 litre (78 US gal)) Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming AEIO-540EXP MT Propeller MTV9 203 20D blades, (250-380 Hp) Performance: Maximum speed: 426 km/h (230 kts) Roll rate: 420°/sec – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MX_Aircraft_MXS – https://www.matthallracing.com/services/airshows/
