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This is a rehash of previous discussions but since we are talking about proposed aircraft, my feelings are that Germany should have spent it development efforts on the clearly superior Me-262 and maybe other jets instead of aircraft like the Ta-152, and especially the Do-335, that were not going to provide significant advantages over the latest Allied aircraft such as the P-51H, P-51M, F4U-4, and the latest Spitfire marks.
Here's a comparison of the Do-335A1/5 to the XP-72, an allied aircraft whose very successful flight test program was cancelled because the Allies were moving on in technology. If we assume that the war had continued and jets were not becoming operational, and these two aircraft, whose development was parallel, met in the skies over Europe in the summer of '45, this is how they might match up.
Empty Weight-lbs
P-72 11476
Do 16280
Loaded Weight-lbs
P-72 14433
Do 21142
Length-ft
P-72 36.6
Dop 45.6
Wingspan-ft
P-72 40.9
Do 45.3
Wing Area- ft^2
P-72 300
Do 414.4
Wing Loading- lb/ ft^2
P-72 48.1
Do 51
Power–Hp(PS)
P-72 3450
Do 4800
P/W Loaded- hp/lb
P-72 .24
Do .23
Max Airspeed-mph
P-72 480 (tested, without turbo) to 490+ (est.)
Do 474
Climb Rate-ft/min
P-72 5280
Do 4600
Ceiling-ft
P-72 42,000
Do 38,000
I think it is apparent that the Do-335 would be at a disadvantage as it is exceeded my most all performance criteria.
Davparlr,
Lets remember that this is the performance of the Do-335A-0 in 1944, by mid 45 it was to powered by two even more powerful high altitude DB603 engines providing 2,700 hp each, plus a GM-1 system which would've increased the ceiling by atleast 10,000 ft. So by mid 45 when the P-72 would've entered service in europe the Do-335 would be hitting speeds of 500 mph and climb at 5,500 ft/min. So the Do-335 P-72 would've been very close.
Also regarding the wing loading, the Do-335 has a much higher Clmax no doubt, the wing being very thick and the airfoil being used optimized for great lifting capability. The P-72's wing was optimized more for all out speed.
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