IAF F-6K-15 Mustang - Recon Mustang
(This suggestion was taken from the old forums and has been updated and uploaded with consent from its original suggestion creator: Suggestion Moderator @yoyolast )
- Yes.
- No.
This suggestion is for the IAF F-6K-15, a reconnaissance variant of the P-51K Mustang produced in Dallas Texas based on the P-51D series. The IAF acquired at least one example of this aircraft, and notably even replaced its unique propeller only seen on P-51K models with one from the P-51D series, removing the only attribute from it that made it a P-51K. Israeli Mustangs also used Israeli made Napalm bombs and 80mm anti-armor rockets, making it even more unique. (I personally suggest this vehicle sits at 5.0 as a premium option, similar to the French BP recon mustang. For other IAF mustang variants to fill the 5.0 slot for the researchable TT, I suggest the IAF P-51D-25 which I’ll suggested separately.)
- 4.0 (Like the P-51D-5/20 at 4.0)
- 4.3 (Like the P-51D-10 at 4.3)
- 4.7
- 5.0 (Like the P-51K/D-30 at 5.0)
- I Voted No.
- As a Researchable vehicle
- As a Squadron vehicle
- As a Premium vehicle
- As a Event vehicle
- I Voted No.
Ingame, the P-51D series currently has 3 different max power outputs, as based on the time periods the later mustangs had access to later fuel types that became available, and these mustangs had the ability to use higher manifold pressure. This gave these later mustangs a higher power output. (For this vehicle, I personally recommend a power output identical to the P-51K/D-30.)
- 1,630hp (Like the P-51D-5/20 at 4.0)
- 1,782hp (Like the P-51D-10 at 4.3)
- 1,848hp (Like the P-51K/D-30 at 5.0)
- I Voted No.
History:
An old image of F-6K number 39 from its later years in the Israeli Air Force Museum in Hatzerim. By the time it was put there on display it lost its original 3 tone paint scheme.
The F-6K-15 that served with the Israeli Air Force was the production serial 44-12843, making it a part of the batch of 43 F-6Ks which were produced in February-March of 1945 and designated as F-6K-15-NT. The F-6K was essentially an armed reconnaissance variant of the P-51K Mustang, distinguished by it’s onboard camera equipment and the portholes it had on the side and bottom of the fuselage for the cameras to see from. These aircraft were originally intended to be delivered to the 8th air force of the USAF to fight in both the European and Pacific fronts of WW2, however very few examples of this variants were actually sent and 44-12843 was not one of them. This specific F-6K’s fate in it’s initial years is largely unknown and it is simply assumed that it remained in a storage crate right up until the moment it was acquired by the Israelis, given that was the fate of many of the F-6Ks that were never sent to war (at least until they were bought for civilian use or were scrapped).
An image taken before a transfer accident occurred.
Many sources wrongly believe that this Mustang was one of the S-26 reconnaissance Mustangs that were purchased from Sweden, however that was not the case for this specific airframe, and the most likely reason that it ended up with Israel was that it was probably purchased by Al Schwimmer (One of Israel’s primary agents in America at the time) while it was still in a storage crate and was later smuggled out of the country at some point. Regardless of the exact way that this Mustang ended up in Israel, it arrived in the port of Haifa on the 28th of June 1954 and was immediately pressed into service with the Israeli Air Force.
The F-6K sitting in one of the IAF museum’s storage hangers mostly disassembled due to its poor condition.
Seeing as this specific airframe was delivered only in mid 1954 it led a pretty short service life. In the Israeli Air force it received the identification number 2339 which was shortened to just 39 and was put into service with the 116th squadron (back in those years it was known as “The Flying Wing” squadron). During it’s service it appears to have never actually been utilized as a reconnaissance aircraft, instead it was utilized in exactly the same way as the rest of the IAF’s Mustangs. The F-6K was used in combat during the Sinai campaign of the Suez Crisis in October of 1956 and was retired from service shortly afterwards along with the rest of the IAF’s Mustangs.
Pictures of the F-6K after its transfer accident in the Israeli Air Force Museum.
After retiring from service most of the 116th squadron’s Mustangs were sent to the Bedek aviation company to be stored, sold or scrapped, however Mustang number 39 was actually kept as a display piece and put up on a pedestal in the entrance to Tel Nof air base which was the home base of the 116th squadron at the time. In 1986 when the 116th squadron moved to Nevatim air base, the Mustang was taken with them and put as a memorial display outside of that air base. Finally, in 1991, the Israeli Air Force museum in Hatzerim acquired the aircraft, but by that time it was already in pretty rough condition so it was placed in the “scrapyard” area behind the museum and not along with the main displays. Unfortunately during one of the attempts to move the aircraft around the museum it’s tail broke off leading to it remaining as a proper wreckage for many many years. Attempts were conducted since the late 90’s to bring it back to a display worthy state but the museum staff weren’t able to do so successfully.
The display pedestal in the Israeli Air Force museum.
In 2009 the civilian Israeli aviation company “El-Al” agreed to repair the aircraft as a donation to the museum and successfully completed the renovation in December of 2014. Since then the F-6K has been placed on a pedestal at the entrance road to the Israeli Air Force museum where it still exists to this day.
Inscription on the aircraft, confirming its identity as a F-6K Mustang.
In Short:
The F-6K-15-NT was the latest production variant of the reconnaissance Mustang aircraft based on the P-51D/K variants. In 1954 the Israeli Air Force acquired a single example of this variant which entered service in the 116th squadron. This F-6K saw combat service during the 1956 Suez Crisis, and was retained after its retirement as a display aircraft sitting outside of military bases and is nowadays displayed in the entrance to the Israeli Air Force museum. Its addition to the tree ingame would bolster the TT with more aircraft between the gaps of low tier in the Israeli Air Tech Tree.
Specifications:
(Click to Show)
Operating Country: Israel
Type: Reconnaissance Fighter Aircraft
Crew: 1 Pilot
Wingspan: 37.04ft.
Length: 32ft 3in.
Height: 13.67ft.
Powerplant: Packard (Rolls Royce) V-1650-7.
(Please note this engine has different power outputs based on the fuel the aircraft was given. Please refer to the poll at the top about this topic.)
Power Outputs: 1,490hp on max throttle, and 1,630hp-1,848hp on War Engine Power (depending on fuel).
Climb Rate: 18m/s-22.7m/s (depending on fuel).
Max speed: 698km/h-721km/h (depending on fuel).
Service Ceiling: ~41,900ft
Range: ~1,155mi (without drop tanks)
Empty Weight: 7,635lbs
Fully Loaded: 12,100lbs
Electronics and Systems:
(Click to Show)
- Radar: None (some P-51D variants received a rearward tail mounted AN/APS-13 radar that would light up a small light on the dash if it detected anything within 3km behind it, this is modeled on the IAF P-51D-20-NA and more but is non functional ingame)
- Cameras: up to 5 ports for reconnaissance, but it’s unlikely any were actually fitted with cameras. The ports were also notably removed at some point in the future, as is seen on later images of the aircraft.
Armament:
(Click to Show)
(Identical to the P-51D-20 variant seen ingame, with small differences presented based on the inaccuracies of the IAF P-51Ds ingame)
- 6x 12.7mm/.50 caliber M2 Browning Machine Guns. The 4 most outward guns have 270 rounds of ammunition each, while the 2 most inward guns have 400 or 500 rounds each. 2080 rounds of ammunition in total.
(Although most late war and post war P-51Ds stopped using the 500 round magazine due to reliability issues, it seems the Israeli Mustangs made use of this, for an additional 200 rounds in total.) - Up to 2x 1000lb AN-M65A1 Bombs.
- Up to 2x 500lb AN-M64A1 Bombs.
- Up to 2x 250lb AN-M57 Bombs.
- Up to 8x AR Rockets.
Missing Weaponry:
- Up to 2x Underwing Drop Tanks with a capacity of 75 or 108 gallons.
- Up to 2x 250 liter Napalm Bombs.
- Up to 12x 8-cm Flz.-Rakete Oerlikon rockets.
Sources:
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http://cgibin.rcn.com/jeremy.k/cgi-bin/gzUsafSearch.pl?target=44-12852&content=
“12843 (MSN 11-36126) delivered as F-6K-15-NT. To Israeli AF Jun 1954 with serial 2339. Flew missions during the Suez War Oct 1956-Nov 1956. SOC in 1960 and displayed on plinth at Tel-Nof AB. Moved 1986 to Nevatim AB as gate guard. To Israeli AF Museum at Hatzerim AB in 1991 and reported in 2009 to be under restoration there.”
North American P-51 Mustang - Wikipedia
North American P-51D Mustang | Military Aviation Museum
P-51 Mustang Survivors - MustangsMustangs.com
P-51 Mustang Variants - P-51K - MustangsMustangs.com
P-51 Mustang Variants - P-51D - MustangsMustangs.com
Thank you for taking the time to read my third suggestion! I hope y’all have a wonderfully blessed day and I’ll see ya in my next suggestion!