1946: Best piston engine fighter in the world?

krieghund · Sep 5, 2012

Ok here are some speed charts:

P47N 385kts = 443 mph @ 35000'

P47M 480 kts = 470 mph @ 32000'

P51H 410 kts = 471 mph @ 22700'

F8F-2 388 kts = 446 mph @ 28000'

F4U-4 387 kts = 446 mph @ 26200'

F2G-1 375 kts = 431 mph @ 16900'

drgondog · Sep 5, 2012

The P-51H top speed according to the SAC Pilot Handbook was 412Kts (474mph) ; In Interceptor config (racks but no external fuel), ROC at SL was 4990fom, Ceiling was 43,100 and time to 25K was 6.7 minutes.

ROC, top speed and climb to 25K was on WEP

wuzak · Sep 5, 2012

Here's a climb chart for the Spitfire 21.

http://www.spitfireperformance.com/dp851climb.jpg

The max rate of climb for the 21 (prototype) was 4800fpm at 7700ft, using a Griffon 61 with +18psi boost at 9000lb AUW. Peak RoC was lower than the P-51H, but it still looks to get to 25k ft first.

Max speed was 455mph, some 20mph down on the P-51H, but how important was that?

Service ceiling 42,800ft.

Spitfire Mk 21 Performance

Anbody got any numbers for a 24 with Griffon 65?

krieghund · Sep 5, 2012

A Spitfire F.Mk24 was rated to 454 @ 26000' with a combat climb to 25kft in 6.1 minutes (it carried more fuel than the Mk21.) This is with the Griffon 61.

However, the Spiteful MkXVI with a Griffon 101 could do 494 @ 27500' and climb to 20Kft in 4.9 minutes

Darn hard to find tangible information spitfires equipped with the griffon 85.

davparlr · Sep 5, 2012

krieghund said:
A Spitfire F.Mk24 was rated to 454 @ 26000' with a combat climb to 25kft in 6.1 minutes (it carried more fuel than the Mk21.) This is with the Griffon 61.

However, the Spiteful MkXVI with a Griffon 101 could do 494 @ 27500' and climb to 20Kft in 4.9 minutes

Darn hard to find tangible information spitfires equipped with the griffon 85.

I'm a bit confused. The only MkXVI I could find was a Packard or RR Merlin powered model with much less performance. Where did you get this info?

wuzak · Sep 5, 2012

davparlr said:
I'm a bit confused. The only MkXVI I could find was a Packard or RR Merlin powered model with much less performance. Where did you get this info?

Spiteful XVI - laminar flow trapezoidal wing, low line wing mounted radiators, Griffon 65 or 85.

krieghund · Sep 6, 2012

davparlr said:
I'm a bit confused. The only MkXVI I could find was a Packard or RR Merlin powered model with much less performance. Where did you get this info?

It is the Spiteful version

krieghund · Sep 6, 2012

Here is another speed chart I found with the Hornet plotted

Rick65 · Sep 6, 2012

Spitfire by Alfred Price Chapter 33 Test Flying the Spiteful by Patrick Shea-Simonds
"Because of the low speed handling characteristics encountered with the Spiteful we spent a lot of time trying to improve matters on the second prototype and early production aircraft. ....
But these improvements were made at the expense of all out speed, with the result that the performance of the Spiteful ended up little better than that of the Spitfire 22."

davparlr · Sep 6, 2012

wuzak said:
Spiteful XVI - laminar flow trapezoidal wing, low line wing mounted radiators, Griffon 65 or 85.

Aah, yes, the old mental misalignment of letters syndrome. Thanks

stug3 · Sep 6, 2012

Tigercat for versatility.

special ed · Sep 18, 2018

I have to go with the Sea Hornet. I like Eric Brown's evaluation. The thread says best of 1946 with no qualifications, guns, range or mission except to beat the other fighter one on one with pilots being equal.

Clayton Magnet · Sep 18, 2018

I would assume that the F7F and Sea Hornet would be disadvantaged against single engined opponents, but that is only an assumption.
Tough to argue against the P-51H, it seems to hold all the cards.

KiwiBiggles · Sep 19, 2018

Clayton Magnet said:
Tough to argue against the P-51H, it seems to hold all the cards

Undergunned.

That was easy.

fastmongrel · Sep 19, 2018

Hawker Fury with the 3,500 hp Napier Saber MkVII that could go to 4,000 hp emergency power.

Peter Gunn · Sep 19, 2018

KiwiBiggles said:
Undergunned.

That was easy.

How so? Did six .50 cal. HMG's suddenly lose all effect the moment the war ended but the eight .50's in the Jug keep their punch?

fastmongrel · Sep 19, 2018

Peter Gunn said:
How so? Did six .50 cal. HMG's suddenly lose all effect the moment the war ended but the eight .50's in the Jug keep their punch?

The .50 by the end of the war was on the way out as a worthwhile gun. If you wanted to knock bombers and armoured fighters down 20mm cannon we're the minimum.

tomo pauk · Sep 19, 2018

fastmongrel said:
Hawker Fury with the 3,500 hp Napier Saber MkVII that could go to 4,000 hp emergency power.

3500 HP with water injection on = emergency.

KiwiBiggles · Sep 19, 2018

Peter Gunn said:
How so? Did six .50 cal. HMG's suddenly lose all effect the moment the war ended but the eight .50's in the Jug keep their punch?

Nope. Tne P-47 was undergunned too.

Clayton Magnet · Sep 19, 2018

KiwiBiggles said:
Undergunned.

That was easy.

Touche'

1946: Best piston engine fighter in the world?

Which was the best piston engine fighter, 1946?

North American P-51H Mustang

Lockheed P-38L Lightning

Republic P-47N Thunderbolt

Vought F4U-5 Corsair

Grumman F8F-1 Bearcat

Grumman F7F-1 Tigercat

Yakovlev Yak-9U

Lavochkin La-9

de Havilland Sea Hornet F.20

Supermarine Spitfire Mk.24

Hawker Tempest Mk.VI

Hawker Sea Fury F Mk 10

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