swampyankee
Chief Master Sergeant
- 4,028
- Jun 25, 2013
The biggest bug in the P-39 was inadequate fuel supply. Since Bell put the engine right where you'd want to put the increased fuel storage, this would require a major redesign.
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My only thought on 1941/42 is that it was a shame the Soviets didn't get the Cobra 6 months earlier to wring the bugs out of it. Then I'm sure the Americans could have made far better use of it out in the Pacific in 1942/43.
The Re 2006 with a DB 603A engine was projected to reach 750 km/h at 7200m (466 mph at 23620 feet)! The first prototype was completed in February 1944 but for political reasons was not flown and was later dismantled.
Take all guns out of the wings. Put in fuel tanks for escort duties. Lighten fuel tank load for interception. 6.9 mins to 20k feet for 39C and 11 to 25k is comparable with Spitfire. No guns in wings. For 42, 20mm cannon, 2 50s, 2 30s in fuselage.The biggest bug in the P-39 was inadequate fuel supply. Since Bell put the engine right where you'd want to put the increased fuel storage, this would require a major redesign.
So I was thinking Port Moresby to Lae PNG, 120 USG internal, 75 USG drop, 195 miles each way, must be feasible.Take all guns out of the wings. Put in fuel tanks for escort duties. Lighten fuel tank load for interception. 6.9 mins to 20k feet for 39C and 11 to 25k is comparable with Spitfire. No guns in wings. For 42, 20mm cannon, 2 50s, 2 30s in fuselage.
So I was thinking Port Moresby to Lae PNG, 120 USG internal, 75 USG drop, 195 miles each way, must be feasible.
Port Moresby to Rabaul, 500 miles each way, so the A6M3 could do it. I doubt if a Warhawk could, but correct me if I'm wrong. Hurricane couldn't nor Spitfire. A Miles M. 20 or a Vultee Vanguard with drop tanks could, except they didn't have any.So I was thinking Port Moresby to Lae PNG, 120 USG internal, 75 USG drop, 195 miles each way, must be feasible.
Take all guns out of the wings. Put in fuel tanks for escort duties. Lighten fuel tank load for interception. 6.9 mins to 20k feet for 39C and 11 to 25k is comparable with Spitfire. No guns in wings. For 42, 20mm cannon, 2 50s, 2 30s in fuselage.
It is too bad that the Re.2006 was not preserved for posterity.
About the calculated figures - chances were slim to none that DB 603A would've powered a ww2 era fighter to 750 km/h (bar perhaps a fighter based on lightweight P-51s - F/G/H/J?). We can recall that Germans needed the DB 603L to propel the Ta-125C to that speed figure, while the Fw 190 or Ta 152 were good for under 700 km/h DB 603A.
Speed depends on what performance variance you're allowing on your fighters. For the Brits it was 3% plus or minus on the norm, for the Germans it was 5% later on in the war. Eg., an Me 262 could be accepted with a top speed ranging from 485 to 540 mph IIRC.The speed for the Re 2006 does look optimistic, but bear in mind that Re by then had experience with the 2005.
But all this reminds me: the Fw 190C was another most useful plane not produced. With a DB 603A (no boosting), B4 87 octane fuel, and full armament (2 MG151, 2 MG131 and a 30mm MK103) 700 km/h was expected. That seems realistic; the similarly powered but unarmed Fw 190V16 reached 724 km/h. The C with 603 was planned for delivery from March 1943 but was cancelled in January 1943, possibly to yield 603s for the Me 410. Its performance/armament combo was not surpassed by the Allies until end 1943 or so and by Germany until the Me 262 in mid 1944.
The speed for the Re 2006 does look optimistic, but bear in mind that Re by then had experience with the 2005.
But all this reminds me: the Fw 190C was another most useful plane not produced. With a DB 603A (no boosting), B4 87 octane fuel, and full armament (2 MG151, 2 MG131 and a 30mm MK103) 700 km/h was expected. That seems realistic; the similarly powered but unarmed Fw 190V16 reached 724 km/h. The C with 603 was planned for delivery from March 1943 but was cancelled in January 1943, possibly to yield 603s for the Me 410. Its performance/armament combo was not surpassed by the Allies until end 1943 or so and by Germany until the Me 262 in mid 1944.
Only the final version F7F-4N passed its carrier qualification tests, 12 were built.Most useful plane not produced? I'd go with the F7F Tigercat. I know it was produced. Corky Meyer says 105 F7F-3N were produced by July 1945. Still, the plane was on the slow burner, and likely the biggest reason for that was that the F6F was plenty good enough for every task that was asked of it, including nightfighter. and it could be produced rapidly and relatively cheaply. Still, the F7F would likely have been a better nightfighter, and could deliver more ordinance per sortie.
The VG-33 is a beauty. France should have followed Britain's example and had only two single engine fighters in large production, in this case the VG-33 and the D.520.Definitely the VG-33. Excellent performance but, like so many other French planes, came too late.
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Only the final version F7F-4N passed its carrier qualification tests, 12 were built.
For land based use only though.Even without passing the carrier tests, the F7F was a pretty potent bird, at least the equal to the Ki-83 that everyone fawns over.
Ok.For land based use only though.
The VG-33 is a beauty. France should have followed Britain's example and had only two single engine fighters in large production, in this case the VG-33 and the D.520.