Supermarine Spitfire vs North American P-51 Mustang
The P-51 Mustang and Supermarine Spitfire are the two most iconic WWII fighter warbirds — the Mustang the long-range Merlin-powered American escort, the Spitfire the elliptical-wing British defender.
Live Market Snapshot
Current asking-price market, aggregated across multiple marketplaces · refreshed daily
No active listings right now.
- For sale now
- 8
- Listed on 2+ marketplaces
- 7
- Source marketplaces
- 3
- Model years available
- 1944–2024
Live data from AeroGurus, aggregated daily across the used-aircraft market. Figures are current asking prices, not appraisals — confirm with a pre-buy inspection.
Safety Record
Absolute counts scale with fleet size — the most-produced types log more events without being less safe. Compare the % fatal.
| NTSB (1982–now) | Supermarine Spitfire | North American P-51 Mustang |
|---|---|---|
| All events | 3 | 1 |
| Serious | 0 | 0 |
| Fatal | 2 | 0 |
| Fatalities | 2 | 0 |
| % Fatal | 67% | 0% |
Full Specs Comparison
| Spec / Model | Supermarine Spitfire | North American P-51 Mustang |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
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| Price Range | — | $503,200 – $3,500,000 |
| Category | — | Warbirds |
| Model Specifications | ||
| Cruise Speed | — | 315 kts (583 km/h) |
| Range | 852 nm (1,578 km) | 1,434 nm (2,656 km) |
| Max Gross Weight | 7,400 lbs (3,357 kg) | 12,100 lbs (5,489 kg) |
Which Should You Buy: Supermarine Spitfire or North American P-51 Mustang?
Bottom line: Choose by heritage preference and budget — both are top-tier Merlin warbirds with elite operating costs; the Mustang offers range/American pedigree, the Spitfire iconic handling/British pedigree. Both demand warbird-class budgets, training and infrastructure. (Originals rare; Spitfire also has a replica scene.)
Pick the Spitfire if…
Pick the P-51 Mustang if…
- Longer range — 1434 nm vs 852 nm.
Auto-generated from current market data and published specs. Confirm with a pre-buy inspection and professional appraisal.