The North American P-51 Mustang was designed to replace the aging P-40 Warhawk as America`s primary fighter aircraft and it proved extremely successful in this role. Nearly 16000 were built and the fighter was used in a military role until 1984. Wi th good range and excellent performance in combat the P-51 was used as America`s primary bomber escort throughout World War II and it saw service in a variety of other roles including ground attack a role that continued to utilize the Mustang well af ter World War II. The P-51 also proved an excellent test platform for a variety of experiments and it was used as a chase plane for other aircraft tests long after it had retired from combat duty in the American Air Force. P-51s were sold to a numb er of nations worldwide and the last P-51s saw military service in the Dominican Air Force until 1984. The Mustang continues to be used in a variety of civilian roles including air races. The meticulous detailing and sublime construction that went into this model reflect the quality of the original aircraft and make this a showcase item for any collection