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Putting a more powerful engine in a Zero would not have done it any good. Above 275 MPH it was pretty much impossible to turn, no self sealing fuel tanks and one piece of armor in the back of the seat made this an obsolete fighter that would have been better relegated to training or non-combat duties by 1942. Addition of all of the necessary stuff would have changed weight, CG and a number of other things that would have had to be engineered for. Better to spend the time designing a new airplane.
Putting a more powerful engine in a Zero would not have done it any good. Above 275 MPH it was pretty much impossible to turn, no self sealing fuel tanks and one piece of armor in the back of the seat made this an obsolete fighter that would have been better relegated to training or non-combat duties by 1942. Addition of all of the necessary stuff would have changed weight, CG and a number of other things that would have had to be engineered for. Better to spend the time designing a new airplane.
The control surfaces would of had to be redesigned, more than likely making them smaller. That probably would of taken away some of its maneuverability. That coupled with more armor and self sealing tanks again would of removed much of it maneuverability. Having the opportunity to see several Zeros up close and personal, there wasn't much more you could do with this design that would of greatly affected its performance and at best probably gotten a few more MPH out of her...The problems with the heaviness of the controls over 275 mph and the alterated CG could be solved, it would interrupt production however.
The control surfaces would of had to be redesigned, more than likely making them smaller. That probably would of taken away some of its maneuverability. That coupled with more armor and self sealing tanks again would of removed much of it maneuverability. Having the opportunity to see several Zeros up close and personal, there wasn't much more you could do with this design that would of greatly affected its performance and at best probably gotten a few more MPH out of her...
You would still have to modify the spar the hinges are located on. A metal control surface balanced will help but it will carry more load to the structure - heavier structure, more weight, especially back in that day....Ther are actually better ways to lighten the control forces, using entirely metal elevators is one.
You would still have to modify the spar the hinges are located on. A metal control surface balanced will help but it will carry more load to the structure - heavier structure, more weight, especially back in that day....
Agreed, but the Zero was already so light that the little extra weight gained from this would mean nothing.
A re-design of the aft wing spar to support say all metal ailerons was a bit more than "a little extra weight." Even the metal surface itself was going to add weight.Agreed, but the Zero was already so light that the little extra weight gained from this would mean nothing.
Bingo...The Zeros biggest problem was no self sealing fuel tanks and no armor plating...
A re-design of the aft wing spar to support say all metal ailerons was a bit more than "a little extra weight." Even the metal surface itself was going to add weight.
Bingo!!!FBJ see's what I am getting at. I think we had a discussion a while back (ofcourse it was a bit different) about modifying a B-25 for carrier landings and how it was a lot more than just adding a tail hook and ofcourse that was all going to add weight, and what does weight do.....
Funny how some people think that working and modding an aircraft is like doing a 2005 Honda...
FBJ see's what I am getting at. I think we had a discussion a while back (ofcourse it was a bit different) about modifying a B-25 for carrier landings and how it was a lot more than just adding a tail hook and ofcourse that was all going to add weight, and what does weight do.....
Funny how some people think that working and modding an aircraft is like doing a 2005 Honda...
Do you believe that? Please explain. I was responsible for weight and balances on aircraft and even the little bit of extra weight is noticible on an aircraft.
Dead on.
The whole land to naval/carrier ops conversion of airframes is also complicated by the carrier landing G requirement. As I recall, the Navy Std for max design load on airframe load bearing structure (gear, main spars if main gear out on wing instead of fuse, etc) for carrier landing was multiples of land based design (I never was involved in USN design) - always a significant weight increase.. that's why the Navy version of F-111 was such a failure, performance wise, from spec.
That doesn't have anything to do with Zero, but putting a bigger engine usually means much more torque - stiffer load carrying structure back to airframe, stronger bulkhead and stiffeners to distribute the new laods, Bigger rudder, stronger rudder attach, maybe longer fuse to get the cg back and the list goes on, and on...
Regards,
Bill