Griffon powered P-51

[dobbie]

European thinking during that time frame was supercharged liquid cooled engines for fighter aircraft because of the aerodynamics....radials presented more drag in comparison. Mr Tank designed the 190 with a very close cowled radial in order to streamline the front end. They had a lot of overheating problems in the first couple of attempts before the fan was installed, and still had to open up the opening from the original design. Although I do like the radials and especially the idea Tank came up with, there is a very distinctive sound to the Merlin and Griffon that is quite pleasing!

 

[tomo pauk]

Fw-190 was an outstanding fighter. For the different reasons (on which Kurt Tank had no influence), it became uncomeptitive vs. what West threw in against it in late 1943/early 1944.

...
Unfortunately, when Thom applied the carbon fiber he made a "hot batch" of resin and melted them down...It's a neat airplane but needs ALOT of work to compete with Strega, or even the Bear when it is running good. PM has alot of potential but needs alot of aerodynamic clean up. The Griffon would have never worked in the P-51 in combat...it eats wayyyy too much gas. With that said, if he can get to Reno next year he has a great chance of winning...I heard a rumor Strega retired, Voodoo IS retired and Dago is well off the radar. The only real contenders are the Bear and Dreadnaught

Jim

Hi, Jim, thanks for the photos.
Just a tidbit - P-51, in 1944, was carrying almost twice the AvGas than a Spit XIV, so the Griffon Mustang would've been a very useful plane back then.

 

[Julian_S]

there is a very distinctive sound to the Merlin and Griffon that is quite pleasing!

This is the best Griffon sound I've found on youtube, skip forward to about 50 seconds, has anyone found anything better?


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EcCYA68m_w

Julian