Groundhog Thread Part Deux - P-39 Fantasy and Fetish - The Never Ending Story (Mods take no responsibility for head against wall injuries sustained) (3 Viewers)

Ad: This forum contains affiliate links to products on Amazon and eBay. More information in Terms and rules

Which reminds me of something amusing when, about 10 years ago, on an online game, I took the name Peter_Three_Eight after of course, our beloved twin Allison powered beauty.

When Lo, I did begin to get compliments on picking such a meaningful verse for my screen name:

1 Peter 3:8
King James Version

8 ​Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:

In retrospect, I fairly like it.
 
As we have heard, all airplanes are a compromise and no single airplane is best at all missions.

The P-39 is a true compromise, not being the best at ANY mission. It seems to be mediocre at ALL missions and had a rearward CG after it attacks anything. So, once the heart-pounding combat is finished, you have the heart-pounding flight-back-home-without-tumbling to finish.

That is, of course, an exaggeration, but seems to fit the theme at this time.

Wonder how the P-39 would have faired had a 2-stage Merlin been installed? That actually might fit. It could have been a sparkling performer that couldn't win anything because it didn't have the range to get there to fight.
 
The P-63B was to have the Packard Merlin, but demand for the V-1650 for P-51 production killed that concept.

Even the P-63's intended Merlin prototype, XP-63A s/n 42-78015 had it's engine fitting cancelled due to a lack of an available Merlin, so it ended up with a V-1710-93 instead.
 
I'm ashamed of it, and I posted it. Has a face that would make a train want to take a dirt road on a rainy night.

But, I like it better than this one:



If that was a girl, you'd have to tie a roast beef to her face to get the dog to play with her.

Bad Greg, bad Greg. Repeat as required for suitable shame.

Maybe it would make a good control line model?
 
GregP said:
Wonder how the P-39 would have faired had a 2-stage Merlin been installed? That actually might fit. It could have been a sparkling performer that couldn't win anything because it didn't have the range to get there to fight.
Click to expand...

How did the range/endurance of the P-39 actually compare with the Spitfire? How did they compare in range when both were carrying a 500 lb pound bomb?
 
For the Bell P-39Q, the range on internal fuel was 525 miles. That puts the combat range at something on the order of 262 miles or less before a turnaround, excluding any combat that required more than cruise fuel flow. A Spitfire II had a combat range of 248 miles. Combat range is a radius, so the P-39 and Spitfire II were very similarly short-legged.

For range when they were loaded, try Google or the POH for that. Neither one was exactly a long-range mount, but the Spitfire II didn't "tumble and roll and dig a big hole." The P-39 sometimes did.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 4 (members: 0, guests: 4)

Similar threads

Paper comparing the flight performance of the P-40E Warhawk and the A6M2 Zero
Replies
8
Views
692
Ivan1GFP
I
The poor performance of the 343 Kokutai against USAAF fighters
2 3 4
Replies
60
Views
6K
GrauGeist
617th squadron and the bunkers in Ijmuiden.
2
Replies
23
Views
640
DerAdlerIstGelandet
M
P-39 Turbo - Here We Go Again
Replies
13
Views
2K
GregP
P-39-style fighter by other people?
2 3
Replies
50
Views
2K
GrauGeist
Menu
Log in
Register