Lockheed Martin / North American F-35 Lightning II (top aircraft), P-51 Mustang (bottom aircraft)

JA 🇺🇸

25 May 2026 · © JA

A USAF Heritage Flight pairing: the modern F-35 Lightning II flying in formation with the iconic WWII-era P-51 Mustang.

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Aircraft

F-35 Lightning II (top aircraft), P-51 Mustang (bottom aircraft) F35 / P51

Manufacturer

Lockheed Martin / North American

Gear

Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max back triple camera 9mm f/2.8

Achievements

Rare Bird, Vintage Voyager, Military Maverick

3 badges earned

Photo grade

Bronze

Score: 72.0

Fantastic timing for formation pass, but the aircraft are underexposed and lack detail against bright sky.

Location

Columbus Air Force Base

CBM/KCBM

33.6438, -88.4438

Open map

Columbus Air Force Base CBM

Airport

Insights

Aviation History

This pairing symbolizes the transition from WWII era piston-driven fighters (P-51 Mustang) to 5th generation stealth jets (F-35 Lightning II), often seen in USAF Heritage Flights.

Fleet Rarity

F-35: hundreds operating; P-51: now rare and mostly flown by warbird collectors.

Record Flights

No notable records for this specific pair, but both aircraft are famous for long-range bomber escort (P-51) and cutting-edge stealth/multirole capabilities (F-35).

Safety & Events

No specific incident depicted. P-51 notable as a legendary WWII escort/fighter. F-35 is the most advanced operational stealth fighter.

Future Outlook

F-35: actively in production/service; P-51: historic/vintage, most are preserved/restored warbirds.

Specifications

F-35: Pratt & Whitney F135; P-51: Packard V-1650 Merlin (Rolls Royce Merlin)

Engine

F-35: 10.7 m; P-51: 11.28 m

Wingspan

F-35: 15.7 m; P-51: 9.83 m

Length

F-35: ~2,200 km; P-51: ~2,655 km (with external tanks)

Range

F-35: ~1,930 km/h (Mach 1.6); P-51: ~580 km/h

Speed

F-35: 1 pilot; P-51: 1 pilot

Capacity

F-35: ~31,800 kg; P-51: ~5,490 kg

MTOW

F-35: 4.33 m; P-51: 4.17 m

Height

F-35: ~191 kN (43,000 lbf); P-51: ~1,490 hp (engine power, not thrust)

Thrust