Making R2D2's scream | Why does the P-51 whistle?

[@IrisAviation91]

Just a quick correction - TF-51Ds can have gun ports, and I made the mistake of believing they didn’t have armament, I was wrong. Some P-51s have gun ports sealed up, resulting in the whistling to not be heard.

[@08jag81]

If a real gun, not just a cover with holes, is in the port does the plane whistle.

[@IrisAviation91]

@@08jag81 Yes, if a real gun is in there it shall make a higher pitched whistle, if there is no gun then a lower pitched whistle. If taped up it won’t whistle.

[@Thatgamerguy1314]

I agree

[@Favoki]

That sound is literal ear candy, giving me ear-gasms with that smooth whistle

[@IrisAviation91]

I agree, the slick whistle is so pleasing to hear)))))

[@joebutlersnr7017]

I couldn't agree more.👍👍👍

[@demef758]

@@joebutlersnr7017 "Plane porn" as a friend of mine calls it!

[@thewendigo9787]

Lol so true ngl

[@Adrenaline0957]

Same lol

[@paco_montsol]

This has to be one of the most beautiful sounds in all of aviation.

[@IrisAviation91]

I agree, it just sounds so good

[@TheDrummingWarrior]

I would have to argue for the Vulcan howl

[@markswain5021]

Yes comes second two the sound of that RR Merlin engine.

[@shahrookhshroff3018]

I prefer the whine - n' - whistle of the DB 605 engine of the Me - 109 as it whooshes gracefully by like a powerful tempest! 🥰🥰🥰

[@Mygg_Jeager]

Or the AT's BRRRT

[@dhuewe]

That sound was a heavenly sound to the Allies in WWII when a P-51D flew over in pursuit of a Messhersmidt strafing the troops. My father-in-law told me of many experiences in WWII when their spirits were lifted and lives saved by that wonderful bird.

[@neilward5968]

Messerschmitt

[@robertwolf3969]

@@neilward5968 and to be exact...a ME-109, probably a G or a K...at that time period of 1944-45

[@kateg7298]

The most beautiful plane ever built. It always brings that line back to me from Empire Of The Sun, "P-51 Mustang, Cadillac of the Skies!".

[@IrisAviation91]

I agree, definitely one of the most elegant aircraft

[@kateg7298]

@Hoa Tattis The Spitfire is elegant but the Mustang is it for me :)

[@butchyshoe]

@Hoa Tattis You obviously know nothing about air resistance !! Try building an airplane that looks like an ELEPHANT !!!

[@kimmer6]

In November 1982, Bob Love flew me in twice in a single day in his P-51D. Looking back 40 years, it was a memory worth treasuring. I have rerun the P-51 scenes many times in Empire of the Sun. In 1958, you could buy a surplus Mustang with about 50 hours on the airframe for between $1100 and $1300 on government auctions. My dad said NO. 70 gallons of fuel per hour and no place to keep it.

[@kateg7298]

@@kimmer6 Oh, what a shame your Dad said no. They're art.

[@wesleyhitchcock4414]

My dads had the barrels still mounted though the breaches and other hardware had been removed at Davis-Monthan. But he loved that sound and that was the sound i grew up with

[@Bo_Nidle]

It's the inboard "blast tube" of the first gun in each wing that causes the whistle, not the mid and outer gun muzzles that protrude from the leading edge. The blast tube is several inches deep before the muzzle of this inboard gun is reached, hence the loud resonance. That's why the B/C models don't whistle. Their 4 x .50s are arranged differently and have no blast tubes. Some TF-51D's retain their "guns", including the aforementioned inboard blast tube, like "Crazy Horse 2" for example, which whistles. However its sibling "Crazy Horse" (which I flew in 2012) has no guns and the clean leading edge means it does not whistle. Contrary to myth, the radiator scoop and supercharger have nothing at all to do with the whistle sound.

[@demef758]

Interesting. I would think that the "deeper" inboard gun means that the air space in it is larger than the other two, so that the whistle is a lower pitch than the others, which have a much higher pitch. Again, think of the coke bottle experiment where when you blow into an empty bottle versus what that is partially filled, the empty has a much lower pitch, or resonant frequency. From which I would conclude the inboard tube's resonant frequency is much more audible than the higher pitch frequencies of the mid- and outboard gun tubes. At some point, the tubes' very shallow depths don't resonate at all.

[@pixelation782]

neat, answered my lingering question of why other American fighters, P47 my favorite WWII fighter for example, dont whistle.

[@pixelation782]

actually just found a different video of an F4U corsair whistling but with a much deeper sound and wanted to see if you know why it whistles differently?

[@xenopodhighlights4593]

@@pixelation782 look up videos of the P-47 Tallahassee Lassie. She still has all of her ducting and the turbo charger intact. Most flightworthy P-47s have the ducting bypassed or removed and the turbo is almost never used due to the complexity and difficulty of repair. You will hear the turbo sometimes with Lassie but not bypassing the intercooler ducts also changes the exhaust sound a lot.

[@TravisPrybylski]

@@pixelation782unlike the 51, the F4U whistle was caused by the intake ports of the leading edge of the wings.

[@oneshotReker]

i always thought it was made by the radiator intake, i never thought a 12.7mm barrel would be able to create something that loud, thanks for clearing that up! lol

[@Collusion10]

Gun barrels only

[@artificialhorizon9945]

Thank you for sharing this about the P-51 aircraft and its iconic whistle sound. It is always exciting to learn about the unique characteristics of different aircraft models. It's always fascinating to learn about the engineering and design aspects that contribute to the sound signature of an aircraft. I enjoyed watching the video and find the information insightful. Thank you for taking the time to share this.

[@DJ-ui2cn]

Awesome explanation! Love this bird, Cadillac of the skies!!

[@davidkepley9634]

I am a race car builder but these planes are amazing! Owning one and flying is a childhood dream that I still think about often

[@nicholasharshbarger4454]

That sound is angelic!

[@IrisAviation91]

I agree, absolutely wonderful

[@gyrro6377]

@@IrisAviation91 Unless you're a German tank commander in 1944

[@mr.morgan5643]

Great video!!! Awesome job!! Epic footage!! I love the sound of a Mustang flyby!!! Now I know why it whistles or not now!! With gratitude, Doug

[@ruairimadigan863]

I had always wondered!...thought it was the wing tips that generated the sound .I saw one of them at RAF Cosford on the Friday evening before the show...most amazing sight and sound ...now I know why it whistled...Thanks!

[@robertwolf3969]

Had the luck to be on the Gulf of Mexico and at a bar/restaurant in Destin.....when....it was hard to believe....a flight of P-51's came roaring over the Gulf. Apparently there is a P-51 club down there and it was utterly awesome...as WW2 fighters are my favorite all-time planes. P-51 Cadillac of the Skies !

[@wingmanjim6]

At last someone puts all the guesswork to rest - THANK YOU !!!!!

[@warrenchambers4819]

Coming at you usually in a bank wind crossing the leading edges makes the cups on the inner most gun whistle. Passing overhead when the rpm range is right you can hear the impeller on the supercharger singing. So it's both just the gun ports are much louder.

[@Slaktrax]

Bullshit, so why not on other Merlin powered aircraft Maestro?

[@warrenchambers4819]

@@Slaktrax Maestro? No No No Technician. 1st take a breath buddy you seem real dam up tight? Ever been to Reno? Most of the racing 51's have no machine gun ports so no screaming banshees or howl upon banking, turns etc. However you do still hear a singing whine not a howling from the heavens. It's the supercharger impellers. If you've ever spun one up on a test bench you'll never forget it. Almost like a skill saw just as the cut finishes you hear a gear winging. V12 super Chargers with short stack exhaust just infront of it you probably won't hear unless the aircrafts centerline has a big ass hole in it. Or maybe a radiator intake/exhaust ports. But you gotta remember anyone slightly hard of hearing will never hear it unless it dam near cut your hair coming over. So it's both only one is loud as hell and the other isn't. Grab a cone bearing, slip it over your fingers and use an air blower to make'er sing you'll see. (Just don't do it with a plastic cage type it'll fuck ya up when she comes apart.)

[@joepromedio]

@@warrenchambers4819 Thank you for your comment. When I was a teenager, I was told that it was the supercharger whistling. Watching this video made me think I was told incorrectly. Sounds like both things can produce the whistling sound.

[@stinkyfungus]

@@warrenchambers4819 You can hear the SC whine in the non gun port Old Crow pass in this video. Its more subtle than the Gun port howl.

[@Juno58]

@@Slaktrax you can also hear a slight supercharger whistle at Spitfires and more prominent at DB 605 engine of Bf 109.

[@ronaldroller7176]

Great video thanks. In the early 1970s in Northern California the fire fighting bombers were B 17s. They were beautiful to watch and hear the hum of four radial engines. They flew in and out of Chico California which had been an Army Airfield during the war. No doubt some of the fire fighter B 17 bombers were revisiting Chico since the war.

[@harris9784]

One such B-17 is now stationed in Michigan, near Detroit. She's called the YANKEE LADY ! One of the best restored and airworthy B-17's to exist..

[@pointnozzleaway]

I'd like to have that P-51 whistle as a ringtone on my phone !

[@mr.morgan5643]

Amen to that!!

[@mr.morgan5643]

I used to have a Huey fly by wake up sound!!!

[@michaelimmanuel8328]

Sho U right!!!

[@kevinmcfadin2141]

I enjoy that Merlin whistle away as much as the gun ports. Such an iconic engine wether in a mustang or Spitfire .

[@connorcincinnati]

No no no. Its really the pilot so happy to be flying this awesome plane he is whistling while he works. Some guys can’t whistle all that well

[@fullstrutn]

sounds just like a Spitfire with that supercharger on it,I was privelaged to witness one[ Spitfire] in Scotland flying north up the River Tweed valley just south of Peebles ,,what a sight what a sound

[@Hd7725HBLTMR]

Watched one fly over the coast of diver. Time warp!

[@pshehan1]

The p-51 and the Spitfire both have the Rolls Royce Merlin engine.

[@richhughes7450]

It's cos it has a Spit or Hurry RR Merlin in it.

[@spreadeagled5654]

Another “Whistling Death” like the F-4U Corsair.

[@robstanton9215]

Both beautiful planes but I love the elegance of it’s inverted gull wing design combined with brute force that the Corsair possesses.

[@spreadeagled5654]

Amen! The F-4U with its inverted gull wings, is a very unmistakably unique aircraft.

[@leonfalde9413]

I watched a video on the F-4U Corsair a while back. They said the whistle on it comes from the oil coolers mounted in the wing next to the fuselage.

[@lewiskemp5893]

They are both my favorites with spitfire just behind. Then the mosquito. Whats neyter than two merlins

[@robstanton9215]

@Hoa Tattis As you’ve said. To each their own. It was faster than the P-51 at top speed by about 10 knots. The P-51 would cruise much faster by nearly 100 knots and was definitely more maneuverable. But their are many Corsair aces that would disagree with you.

[@mustanggun]

One of the most classic, iconic, beautiful, performance, all American ever built, and that will ever be.

[@gibson617ajg]

If it was 'all American' it would have an Allison engine in it.

[@Juno58]

Another interesting fact is, no P-51 B or C model whistles because of the different gun installation. At the D model sometimes you can hear a slight whistle during landing.

[@bigblue6917]

Funny. When you hear the answer it is obvious. Thanks for that.

[@IrisAviation91]

No problem at all!

[@Space_Bacon]

Thanks for the info! Such an amazing sound

[@TexasHarleyBoy65]

Excellent explanation!

[@pro-eq9oy]

Thank for p51 details... Also my first and successful rc controlled large scale Air craft is p 51 d mustang which successfully take off from ground... First powered.. Propeller flight...

[@63grandsport11]

Sometimes tape was put over the ports before High altitude escorts to prevent moisture from entering the port and freezing a gun up which can happen at 25,000 feet reaching 40 below zero.

[@SuperTrackhoe1]

I wish I could get an exhaust my car that sounded like a p-51. Definitely, a classic sound. Beautiful.

[@danakoester5476]

Awsome sound!!

[@IrisAviation91]

I agree, absolutely legendary

[@randymitchell6373]

I had always thought it to be supercharger related but also was aware of the gun ports and imperfections of the perfect plane that is the P51 that also cause the whistling but I assume the supercharger related whistle pertains more to the Corsair than the mustang. Beautiful sound though and beautiful airplane. Nothing in the world like it.

[@johncgibson4720]

Great info here.

[@Angry_Squirrel555]

There actually seems to be a combination of more than one sound. Yes, the gun ports make the majority of the sound, but the one without still had a slight high pitch whistle on fly-by. Like using salt to enhance flavor, the intake seems contribute ever so slightly to the overall sound as can be heard by the one without the gun ports on fly-by.

[@simon6ppc246]

This and obviously the Spitfire has to be two of the best planes ever made in WW2

[@barnykirashi]

I would agree with the Spitfire, but the P-47 and the F6F were both better than the Mustang.

[@WizzRacing]

They whistle when the angle of attack is high..Something that saved an airshow pilot. AS his engine stopped. He heard the whistling over the gun ports. So he knew he was not going to make the runway. So he landed it in a field..

[@IrisAviation91]

Isn’t that the incident at Duxford if I am not mistaken? Those gun ports act as pretty good stall indicators

[@bobjohnson6371]

Pretty cool, thanks for posting.

[@IrisAviation91]

No problem!

[@yanktornado5121]

That’s a great explanation

[@IrisAviation91]

Thank you :)

[@Critter145]

It seems like a degree of back-pressure inside the gun port is necessary as well. If the hole went through, ie wasn’t designed for airflow like the radiator, there wouldn’t be the energy needed to create the pressure oscillations inside the gun port, which is basically an open ended moonshine jug.

[@ogaugeclockwork4407]

The Australian made Boomerang fighter is probably the most consistently whistling fighter of WWII.

[@shreddinjoe]

Amazing machine...just gorgeous

[@ralphpeabody9101]

Both are badass sounding ❤️

[@markk3652]

The whistle is cool, but that supercharged engine is the real magic sound! Nothing sounds as good as the piston powered war machines from this era. Fighters, bombers, tanks.

[@The300savage]

And I thought it was the supercharger. Thanks for the info.

[@alyciamarrison2916]

I guess this correctly! & I wish for my P51D to have open gunports as the sound is dead cool!!!

[@Warbird-Aviation]

very interesting input!

[@stephensmart7388]

Just an Amazing Sound of Packard Merlin Sweet Music to my ears Amazing Stuff

[@darinfonder1388]

What a beautiful and amazing machine!!!

[@MyVisualRomance]

I heard the legends about this sound scaring the crap out of the enemy. I believe they called it the whistle of death.

[@surroundedbyjaggoffs]

Because it's working of course !!!!! You know, whistle while you work, geezz!!!

[@mingaumatador5776]

Thanks man!

[@IrisAviation91]

No problem!

[@robertotamesis1783]

About the Harmonica effect on the F4U 1D Corsair ?

[@BradBrassman]

The Mustang whistles whilst the Spitfire just hums along.

[@stevensaviationspotting]

Oh thx!

[@IrisAviation91]

No problem!

[@stevensaviationspotting]

@@IrisAviation91 👍

[@paladin0654]

Since the .50 cal gun ports are ubiquitous among US WW2 fighters, does that mean they all whistle?

[@bobuboi4643]

Yes technically. But not like the mustang, the mustangs super-charger and gun port whistles make it make a distinctive sound.

[@surroundedbyjaggoffs]

Love that sounds, "whistling death"!!!

[@theloneeaglei4471]

Thnak You

[@demzt.7677]

I'd say during the WW2 that whistling sound represents if you'll meet your demise or you'll be protected and be safe.

[@pascalcouwenbergh1618]

Always nice to learn something😊

[@Smurphenstein]

When I was younger I thought it was because they were supercharged. An amazing sound.

[@Amity172]

That Merlin is so sexy the sound it makes when cutting through the air is just MMMMM

[@stevensaviationspotting]

I heard a whistle from a P51 Mustang before

[@IrisAviation91]

Same, sounds amazing!

[@stevensaviationspotting]

@@IrisAviation91 nice, indeed!

[@stevensaviationspotting]

Here it is: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rHillXlnZZ6NZqs

[@BradBrassman]

"I felt them, I touched their heat; Oil and cordite!"

[@bunnykiller]

that is just kewl...

[@edthesecond]

I have a battered Subaru that does something like that . The right front wheel well cover is cracked and is held in with plastic tie downs and it drives me crazy when I'm driving into a strong headwind and that wheel well starts whistling. Seriously, thanks for the explanation.

[@trailerpark187]

Beautiful airframe

[@zodiacdecay8483]

Actually the F4U Corsair has also got a whistling sound and therefore was nicknamed Whistling Death

[@karlgustav999]

Gorgeous bird

[@shahrookhshroff3018]

How would a P - 51 D compare in a dogfight (with equally skilled pilots flying both sets of airctaft) with : - a Messerschmitt Me - 109 K4, - a Focke - Wulf FW 190 D9/13 or - a Mitsubishi "Zero"?

[@robertwolf3969]

The Zero was pretty much a 2nd rate aircraft by 1944, as the F6 Hellcat shot down scores of them at the Great Marianas Turkey shoot and before then as well. And the P-51 was superior to the F6. A The FW 190 D(ora) 13 was the best German fighter and had almost the equivalent speed as a Mustang. While the Me-109K had a faster climb rate than both. So if the skill of pilots were equal....this would be a hard call. Personally I like the 20mm cannons as an armament. Better than MG's. And I would take the FW over the ME as the FW was a much sturdier plane and could take more hits.

[@shahrookhshroff3018]

@@robertwolf3969 BAGGED IT! 🔥🔥🔥💪💪💪👌👌👌

[@JoeMama-vj8es]

Little known fact: When Henry Ford designed the P-51 Mustang his son Edsel was really into whistling and the rest is history.

[@Juno58]

Henry Ford didn't design the P-51.

[@lewiskemp5893]

I did learn. Thanks

[@ToreDL87]

Some say it's the gun ports, some say it's the gear doors, I say it's the intake. Either way, a plea to custodians of remaining air worthy P-51's that still make the sound: Please don't fix it.

[@Juno58]

Sorry, but you're wrong - it's definitely the gun ports. Guess why no B or C model whistles!

[@HAMlLTON]

it still has a high pitch whistling sound. not nearly as overt as the gunported 51a

[@abnernelson7962]

0:59 was that R2 D2 screaming???

[@IrisAviation91]

Quite possibly...

[@doca8792]

‘Cause it’s bad ass and does what it wants to do!

[@lul9435]

0:58 I can hear R2D2 screaming lol

[@Hataliano]

Ju87 : Finally a worthy opponent

[@brianperry]

Strangely enough the F4U was called whistling death by the Japanese.... same armaments 6x50 cals.

[@paoloviti6156]

It is a not strange because the whistling sound of the F4U came from the embedded radiators at the root of the wings. What a shame that I never saw the Corsair flying....

[@KennethWhiteakaruckusbringa]

is there another example of the second plane but pulling up from a dive this time thx

[@vikkimcdonough6153]

On P-51s with open gunports, do the openings in the leading edge of the wings have any significant effect on the plane's stall behavior?

[@IrisAviation91]

The size of the gun ports are so small and therefore would yield a neglegiable effect to the stalling characteristics of the mustang, maybe only altering behaviour slightly.

[@carlfritzler6152]

Do all WWII Aircraft whistle during a dive or just certain ones?

[@PenzancePete]

Why does the P-51 whistle? It can't remember the words.

[@theophilhist6455]

totally agree

[@rinner2801]

I prefer without the whistling so you can get a load of that sublime engine.

[@arapaima9247]

p51: i wistle like a pro f4u: ok :)

[@samanli-tw3id]

The plane without the gun ports also made a whistle, probably the supercharger.

[@Juno58]

But the superchargers whistle is by far not as loud as the gunports whistle!

[@fury4539]

Aaahhh interesting, I thought it was the super-charger.

[@the_answeris6694]

So did I. I just thought it was the whine of the super-charger you heard over the top of that Packard V-1650 roar. Either way, it's still a pretty sound!

[@tomdoland6918]

Whistling Death. 😊

[@IrisAviation91]

Wonderful nickname :)

[@sethjansson5652]

F4U: Hey there

[@barnykirashi]

Shouldn't then nearly every fighter whistle? Or at least those that have muzzles deep in the gun ports. Like Spitfires, Corsairs (They whistle to my knowledge) Hellcats, Bearcats Thunderbolts, maybe even the J22. Of course planes like the Mitsubishi A6M Series, or the Bf-109 series have their muzzles way outside the wing. As for Soviet fighters, their guns are usually nose mounted anyways.

[@IrisAviation91]

Mustang gun ports are uniquely shaped allowing for the whistle.

[@JustinWard-e2k]

Would it be a good idea to use a P-51 mustang just shoot down with the drones

[@biknjak]

I would have thought it was due to a turbo or supercharger. Turbo'ed diesels have a whistle to them sometimes.

[@tylerbonser7686]

I thought it whistle cause it was so happy.

[@davyfaeforth]

DD markings on plane as well

[@iontarmoaca3628]

the compresor sound!

[@butchyshoe]

I hate to break the hearts of all the Brits, but the Spits was strictly a defensive fighter. Never saw Germany. BUT ! with the combination of the British Merlin engine and the sleek design of the P-51 and its extreme range and we must include it's 6 !!! 50 cal. machine guns, AND it's capability to escort the B-17s all the way to Germany and while the bombers were bombing the P-51s went off and looked for targets of opportunity like trains, airports, and industry. GOD save the MUSTANG !!!!! and ok the QUEEN too !!! USA ! USA !

[@stuartclemmons3832]

Never saw a Mustang with no gun ports, those might have a racing past.

[@IrisAviation91]

I think so too, possibly racers converted into warbirds without the reinstallation of gun ports.

[@markmiller570]

0:59, i think it's just me but i heard r2d2

[@kwb200]

I always thought it was a supercharger. Until recently

[@grafspeem9402]

Supercharger would whistle all the time, but p51 whistle only when high aoa is applied

[@robertgolden1080]

Damn sexy airplane.