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I wouldn't go that far. The Me-109 was continually upgraded, keeping it competitive until the end of the war.RLM enforced cancellation/delay of the DB-603 and Jumo-213 engine programs cost the Luftwaffe air superiority
1936. RLM funds development of the DB603 engine.
1937. RLM cancels funding for the DB603 engine.
1937. RLM funds development of the Fw-190 fighter aircraft.
Dr. Tank preferred to power his new fighter aircraft with the DB603 V12. Cancellation of the DB603 engine program forced Focke Wulf to swith to the BMW139 radial engine. Cancellation of the BMW139 in favor of the yet to be developed BMW801 engine forced a second major redesign of the Fw-190. Each of these design changes delayed the Fw-190 program and added weight to what was originally a lightweight fighter aircraft.
IMO the Fw-190C could probably have been operational during early 1941. So could the Do-217M bomber. RLM caused great damage to both aircraft programs by cancelling development of the DB603 engine.
Fw 190 C prototypes with annular radiatior and "normal" supercharger (no Hirth Turbo) were in the same weight class as the A version. Same goes for the Fw 190 D.There was little or no way the Fw-190 was going to be a light weight fighter with a DB 603 in it. Not with the weight of the DB 603, the weight of the radiators and the weight of the entire engine installation.
The historical Fw-190C and Fw-190D were built using a modified Fw-190A airframe. So it's to be expected they would weight about the same.Fw 190 C prototypes with annular radiatior and "normal" supercharger (no Hirth Turbo) were in the same weight class as the A version. Same goes for the Fw 190 D
Autumn 1937.
RLM begins funding development of the Fw-190.
1938.
Cancellation of the DB603 engine program forces Dr. Tank to switch to the BMW139 radial engine.
1 June 1939.
Fw-190 prototype first flight. BMW139 engine.
Spring of 1940.
Fw-190 prototype first flight with BMW801 engine.
- BMW801 was longer and heavier then the BMW139 engine.
- Airframe strengthened.
- Cockpit moved further to the rear to improve engine cooling.
- Strengthened undercarriage with larger wheels to accomodate the additional weight.
- 635kg total weight gain.
- Larger wing to compensate for the weight gain.
Spring 1942.
Fw-190A3. First somewhat reliable version.
DB603 engine. 1,750 hp with B4 fueld. 1,900 hp with C3 fuel.
920kg dry weight.
7 sq ft engine frontal area.
BMW801 engine. 1,539hp with B4 fuel. 1,750hp with C3 fuel.
1,088kg dry weight.
14.7 sw ft engine frontal area.
The historical Fw-190C and Fw-190D were built using a modified Fw-190A airframe. So it's to be expected they would weight about the same.
But what if the Fw-190 airframe was designed for the DB603 engine from 1937 onward? Would the airframe still gain 635 kg during development? Would it take advantange of the slimmer engine to be a bit more aerodynamic? Would it have a prop mounted cannon from the beginning, eliminating any need for the two outer wing cannon positions? Would it have a bit more power while running on the same C3 fuel that the BMW801 engine required?
Did the original 1937 Fw-190 plans call for an annular radiator? I suspect a radiator arrangement similiar to the late 1930s Me-109 and He-100D1 is more likely.frontal area advantage of the DB603 would count for nothing if it were mounted with an annular radiator
1941 DB601E engine. 34L. 1,350 HP. with B4 fuel.
1941 DB603 engine. 44.5L. Displacement is 31% larger.
I am under the impression a DB603 is essentially a larger version of the DB601. So why wouldn't a 1941 DB603 engine produce approximately 31% more power then a 1941 DB601 engine?
I agree. RLM cancelled funding for the DB603 engine program during 1937. At the same time RLM authorized funding of the DB604 engine for the Bomber B program.Bomber B and the He 177 had slow down the german high performance engine development significant.