Packard Merlin Engine V-1560

Posted by Gordon and Michael Conn On 2007/10/14 19:27:14

This wouldn't really fit in the pre-war or post-war categories so I hope it's fine posting it here.

Anyways, I was able to attend the Gathering of Mustangs and Legends "The Final Round Up" in September (the gathering of P-51 Mustangs that is) and as many of you all know, these magnificient fighters were powered by the Rolls Royce and Packard Merlin engines, and what a place to be, surrounded by the roar of over 100 of those Merlin engines. Anyhow, it's always bugged me to hear people refer to the Mustang as "The Cadillac of the Sky", when these birds were powered by Packard... It'll always be the P-51 "the Packard Powered Mustang" to me. (or something like that...) That engine changed a lot of things for our Army Air Corps. and played a vital roll in the WWII Allied victory. I'm just glad that Packard was able to contribute in such a way, and I wish that people had a better way to know about that history. It's sites like this that make that possible...Thanks!

Just thought it would be a neet topic to open for discussion that really is overlooked...
Conn