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It was only possible to place the cannons in the existing wing outside the wheel wells, this would have created large moments of inertia, the roll would have dropped sharply.Agreed all the way.
The MG FFMs in the wings are the least problematic choice for a cannon setup, and by the time of the 109G, the 90 rd drum is in the play. By 1943(?), the belt-fed FFM is on use on the nightfighter Do 217s, so that is another thing to explore wrt. installation in the wing of a 109.
Independently on the startpoint. The most important thing was to spot the enemy in time and prevent a surprise attack. When this condition was met, the importance of the maximum speed was reduced (as distinct from the really achievable combat speed).Depends on the standpoint? If your fighter is down by 30 km/h vs. the enemy's fighter, adding 15 km/h helps in making the speed difference indeed a trivial matter.
I know. MW-50 injection was assumed by default.Notleistung will not add 50+ km/h just on it's own vs. the next lower power setting (Kampfleistung typically for the German engines) - see this for example, gain is of some 20 km/h.
There is no arguing with that, but to fight heavy bombers its armament was insufficient and it was almost unrealistic to upgrade it to a satisfactory level.The limit of 7 km was absolutely important in the ETO, where Luftwaffe gotten the worst in-combat beating.
I doubt that an acceptable result could have been achieved in the geometric dimensions of the Bf 109. And changing them would actually mean creating a new airplane. The reserves for modernization of the Bf 109 were exhausted by 1944.Hence the introduction of the DB 605 AS and ASM engine, to close the gap vs. the better Allied fighters above 7 km, as well as to make it more useful in downing the B-17s above that altitude.
It was only possible to place the cannons in the existing wing outside the wheel wells, this would have created large moments of inertia, the roll would have dropped sharply.
By the way, installing a droplet-shaped canopy on the Bf-109 would require a radical redesign of the fuselage's structural elements. Technologically, this would mean changing the manufacturing tools, which is a very expensive.
Not by installing the very light cannons with their light ammo. A far, far smaller problem than with double the number of cannons on many British fighters, with much heavier cannons and with their more numerous and heavy ammo.It was only possible to place the cannons in the existing wing outside the wheel wells, this would have created large moments of inertia, the roll would have dropped sharply.
Soviets managed to outfit their fighters with a better canopy than what was originally installed pretty seamesly wrt. the mass production issues. Same with NAA and Republic.By the way, installing a droplet-shaped canopy on the Bf-109 would require a radical redesign of the fuselage's structural elements. Technologically, this would mean changing the manufacturing tools, which is a very expensive.
In my humble opinion, it was much easier to design a new aircraft than to redesign the Bf 109 - it had exhausted its modernization resources by 1944. The "Karl" did not change the situation radically, the higher speed was achieved at the expense of climb rate and maneuverability if you consider the data of production aircraft, not prototypes.
Ballistic and RoF were insufficient, the ammunition capacity of 60 20mm rounds was too little for 1944. In addition, high dispersion during firing. And nothing else could be fit.Sure, but it worked well enough on the 109E, which was competitive with its peers, no?
Exactly.Probably? What kind of manufacturing tools are we talking about here? Forms etc. to cast/bend/press the frames and stringers into the correct shapes, or?
There was a big difference between the situations in German and US/UK industry.Expensive or not, it seemed doable and worthwhile for the Brits and Americans, considering the Mustang, Spitfire, and Typhoon, at least.
Exactly.Then again, at that point in the war the Allies weren't with their backs to the wall to the same extent, so maybe they were better able to afford such changes.
Too much of money, time and human resources was spent in order to gain that extra 10 or 20 km/h just for you to to disqualify all of that on a whim.Independently on the startpoint. The most important thing was to spot the enemy in time and prevent a surprise attack. The most important thing was to spot the enemy in time and prevent a surprise attack. When this condition was met, the importance of the maximum speed was reduced (as distinct from the really achievable combat speed).
Assumed by whom?I know. MW-50 injection was assumed by default.
There is no arguing with that, but to fight heavy bombers its armament was insufficient and it was almost unrealistic to upgrade it to a satisfactory level.
I doubt that an acceptable result could have been achieved in the geometric dimensions of the Bf 109. And changing them would actually mean creating a new airplane.
The reserves for modernization of the Bf 109 were exhausted by 1944.
And who needs them in 1944? Only the Soviets.Not by installing the very light cannons with their light ammo.
If I remember correctly, even the Spitfire had a thicker wing than the Bf 109 in absolute terms. Size matters. It was impossible to fit everything into the geometry of the Bf 109 at the same time - for example, a powerful engine and a powerful armament.A far, far smaller problem than with double the number of cannons on many British fighters, with much heavier cannons and with their more numerous and heavy ammo.
The Soviets used simpler technologies that did not require major tooling changes. The Americans had incomparably greater capabilities in industry - they could change tooling without reducing the rate of production. This would hardly have been possible for the Germans in 1944.Soviets managed to outfit their fighters with a better canopy than what was originally installed pretty seamesly wrt. the mass production issues. Same with NAA and Republic.
I guess that option was possible. At least, I can't point out what complications might have arisen.But there was also a middle ground to that, namely a 'blown' part of the canopy for many of fighters, like the Spitfire, Mustang ('Malcom hood' for the two), or Corsair. Improves the pilots ability to scan the airspace without the need to go for the cut-down rear fuselage. Here is the similar, if not even better canopy on the Avia S.199.
Basically, neither the modernization of the Bf.109 nor the development of a new aircraft yielded the expected result. Geometry imposed constraints on modernization, the introduction of a new aircraft reduced the quantitative factor.MTT found it harder to design a new fighter to replace the 109, not easier.
Not radically. "Being more clean" does not mean "better overall performance".The 109K changed the situation by being a more clean aircraft the later 109Gs.
RoC 6.0 min to 6km vs. 5.8 min for G-10, turn time 23-24 s vs. 20-21 s - test results for production aircraftHow do you figure that the 109K sacrificed the RoC and maneuverability vs. the 109Gs?
Not for me - for the pilots.Too much of money, time and human resources was spent in order to gain that extra 10 or 20 km/h just for you to to disqualify all of that on a whim.
It depends. The Soviets seriously discussed resuming production of the I-153 in 1941 having enough 'razorback' monoplanes which were not significantly better at the end of the day!A biplane with perfect canopy was a far worse fighter than a 'razorback' monplane of a day.
By me.Assumed by whom?
"Better" does not mean "sufficient for ETO".Staring out with three cannons is a better thing than starting out with a cannon and two LMGs, or even with one cannon and two MG 131s.
Sure. But not with powerful armament simultaneously.The AS/ASM engine were able to fit within the geometric dimensions of the Bf 109.
As you wish.So we disagree.
By the way, there is a simple explanation for this: Soviet engineers filled the 109 with the best gasoline available - it had a higher ON than the German one.Unfortunately for the Bf 109 drivers, it was only the Soviets that concluded that the 'three gunned' 109G-2 was good for 660-670 km/h on Kampfleistung (2600 rpm, max 1.30 ata = max power at 5.7 km of 1250 PS). Germans tested the same thing as being good for up to 650 km/h.
I can't promise I won't comment on your postings.Seems like we're disagreeing on too many things, so I will not try to debate with you anymore in this thread.
Let me make it even more convenient.I can't promise I won't comment on your postings.
Love it. The best function on most forums.Let me make it even more convenient.
That's unnecessary. Better focus on the arguments. I don't aim simply to contradict you. I am genuinely interested in how you argue your ideas. But unfortunately, you prefer to leave the podium proudly rather than to respond to your opponent's quite adequate remarks. If you do not find them so, I am ready to consider your claims. However, if you do not respond, my heart will not burst from grief, sorry.Let me make it even more convenient.
Not really. Fuel doesn't matter as long as the boost level is the same. And higher boost from higher octane fuel lowers the critical height, more or less canceling out the speed gains.By the way, there is a simple explanation for this: Soviet engineers filled the 109 with the best gasoline available - it had a higher ON than the German one.
For engines with direct fuel injection, additional power can be gained by using fuels with higher volatility to improve combustion conditions. For radial engines, for example, power gain can exceed 10%.Not really. Fuel doesn't matter as long as the boost level is the same. And higher boost from higher octane fuel lowers the critical height, more or less canceling out the speed gains.
Or not so simple.By the way, there is a simple explanation for this: Soviet engineers filled the 109 with the best gasoline available - it had a higher ON than the German one.