Today in Aviation History: First flight of the North American P-51 Mustang A Mustang Mk.I in British camouflage and American markings on a test flight from the Inglewood, CA factory in October 1942. [U.S. Office of War Information photo via Wikimedia Commons] A Mustang Mk.I in British camouflage and American markings on a test flight from the Inglewood, CA factory in October 1942. [U.S. Office of War Information photo via Wikimedia Commons] On October 26, 1940, the North American NA-73X - the first prototype of what would become the iconic P-51 Mustang - took to the skies, marking the start of an aviation legend. The aircraft stood out in performance and design, so much so that in 1944 the Truman Senate War Investigating Committee declared it the most aerodynamically perfect pursuit plane in existence. Originally designed for the British Royal Air Force (RAF), the P-51 gained recognition as the finest all-around piston-engine fighter and was later adopted by the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF). This amazing marvel was designed and produced by North American Aviation (NAA) under the leadership of James H. Kindelberger. However, the designing and manufacturing process was a roller-coaster ride of its own, worth every high and low. Click here for full text https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/enthusiasts/today-in-aviation-history-first-flight-of-the-north-american-p-51-mustang/ar-AA1sYXgP?ocid=BingNewsSerp