North American P-51 Mustang vs Supermarine Spitfire
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 · re-checked on a rolling daily cycle
- For sale now
- 8
- Model years available
- 1944–2024
No active listings right now.
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) | North American P-51 Mustang | Supermarine Spitfire |
|---|---|---|
| All events | 1 | 3 |
| Serious | 0 | 0 |
| Fatal | 0 | 2 |
| Fatalities | 0 | 2 |
| % Fatal | 0% | 67% |
Full Specs Comparison
| Spec / Model | North American P-51 Mustang | Supermarine Spitfire |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
| Price Range | $503,200 – $3,500,000 | — |
| Category | Warbirds | — |
| Model Specifications | ||
| Seats | 1 | 1 |
| Horsepower | 1,490 HP | 1,470 HP |
| Cruise Speed | 315 kts (583 km/h) | 290 kts (537 km/h) |
| Range | 1,434 nm (2,656 km) | 852 nm (1,578 km) |
| Service Ceiling | 41,900 ft (12,771 m) | 36,000 ft (10,973 m) |
| Max Gross Weight | 12,100 lbs (5,489 kg) | 7,400 lbs (3,357 kg) |
| Useful Load | 3,500 lbs (1,588 kg) | 1,800 lbs (816 kg) |
| Fuel Burn | 60.0 GPH (227 L/h) | 60.0 GPH (227 L/h) |
| Engines | 1 x Piston | 1 x Piston |
Which Should You Buy: North American P-51 Mustang or Supermarine Spitfire?
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 P-51 Mustang if…
- Faster cruise — 315 kts vs 290 kts.
- Longer range — 1434 nm vs 852 nm.
Pick the Spitfire if…
Auto-generated from current market data and published specs. Confirm with a pre-buy inspection and professional appraisal.