Recent content by GregP

Then you have not read the prototype flight test report.

Every pilot report I ever read about the Bf 109 mentions the heavying up of the elecators above 250 mph or so and the l;ack of rudder trim as limiting factors. That's every combat evaluation I've read over 60+ years of reading about WWII,. including Soviet reports, American reports, British...

When I said not even close, I was referring to the size and horsepower. NOBODY is making a 2,000 hp radial or inline for general aviation use since there isn't a requirement for it and no government is paying for the fuel if there were such a beast. We basically make piston engines from about...

Logically, there is no reason why having the P-38's engine turn inwards would cause the aircraft to be unable to lift off, but thath happened. So, tey changed the engines to outward-turning, and the issue "went away." Doesn't seem to be a logivcal explanation for that one, either, but the...

In the Amsoil Engine Masters Challenge, did the engines have to produce power for 8 - 10 hours at a time at 75% or so power or just run long enough to get dyno tested? That was a worst-case London-to-Berlin and back mission (last to take off, last to land). The engines of the day were good for...

I'm going to guess they knew they didn't have a great high-altitude engine and wanted to maximize their low-to-medium altitude fighters. The typical Soviet triangular wing makes a good rolling platform and the lower aspect ratio and area concentrated closer to the centerline makes for a good...

Here's an I-185 I just finished. Moscow in the background. Looks altogether like a decent airplane. It actually flew with 4 different engines: Shvetsov M-81 (1,200 hp), Shvetsoc M-82 (1,700 hp), Tumansky M-90 (2,000 hp), and Shvetsov M-70 (2,000 hp). Stalin listened to Yakovlev, who thought...

Since there were a couple of likes on the RC aerobatic demo, here is an RC helicopter aerobatic demo. Easy to tell the power to weight ratio is a bit improved over full scale! https://youtu.be/u-7D0MnDIn8

Only if they are scaled to be lighter than the full scale versions and only if the thickness to chord ratio is also scaled correctly. Generally, RCs have a much better power to weight ratio, but you can't scale down the air, so the wings have to be thicker to fly the same. From 35+ years of RC...

Here is the radio control logical extrapolation of the Gee Bee. Flies really well and maneuvers well, too. Has a good rudder, too.

Good thing it has fixed gear or the flying wires on the underside would have no place to be attached ...

You don't suppose it was influenced by the Gee Bees, do you?

That;s my understanding as well. The Spitfire was good at a lot of things, but quick roll response was not one of them.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't the clipped-wing Spitfire made to be better specifically at lower-altitude tasks? It was never intended for 25,000-foot missions. But, when tghe need arises, you fly what you are issued on whatever mission comes up.

Procurement specifications very rarely ever come from queries of the current pilots. They are made up by a commtiiee or committees consiting of older Air Force people from 2 or more earlier generations of pilots and other officers. They rarely address what the current pilots want. That comes...