How to Dogfight Aggressively in the P-51 Mustang (War Thunder - Air RB Tutorial Guide)

The P-51 Mustang is often considered a pure BnZ fighter in War Thunder - it has excellent energy retention, top speed, and dive performance. Because of its rather poor turn-rate and handling in-game, dogfighting in the P-51 is generally considered a bad idea - but that's not always the case.

There are situations and tactics where the P-51 can not only hold its own against more maneuverable fighters, but turn the tables and defeat them. This video highlights some situations where the P-51 can dogfight vs. Yaks, J2Ms, Ki-84s, and more.

To be specific: the P-51 excels at high-speed maneuvering over ~420 kph, snap-rolls, and overshoots using rolling-scissors. The combat flaps are incredibly sturdy and can be used to tighten the turn-rate at high-speed to temporarily out-turn much more maneuverable fighters. The Takeoff/Landing flaps should be used at lower speeds during loops/stall-fights to improve the plane's poor turn-rate. Utilizing God's G (the increased turning ability of planes at the top half of loops when pulling down) while the enemy is doing a Split-S in a scissors-fight can also allow the P-51 to hold the edge.

Although I would have to conclude from 10+ years of War Thunder experience that the P-51 is not suited well for dogfighting (its low speed handling is simply too sluggish,) it is certainly capable of it in the right conditions.

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Music: Need For Speed Most Wanted (2005) Pursuit soundtrack