P-51 Voodoo Becomes Fastest Piston in the World

[RpR]

Greg:
You say the Merlin is not a Merlin because all the parts are not original.
A Dart or Bill Mitchell Chebby is still called a Chebby.

With today's CNC ability has any considered custom heads or after market rods etc..
I know this stuff is not even remotely related to cheap but the racers are not either.

 

[GregP]

Hi Bill,

I'm sure you realize it, but none of the props on the fast Mustangs are stock diameter, and could not be flown on a limited category P-51. I can't say for sure whether or not the airfoils on the fast Mustang props are stock or not. I suspect not, but these data points are generally team close-hold information. Maybe I can find out whether the airfoils are stock or not, but I doubt I can find out the airfoil number if not stock, and we really have no reason to know anyway.

Voodoo could easily beat the record set a bit ago, but the main factor is money since the cost for a record attempt is enormous. Basically they succeeded and their engine went south during the last pass, resulting in a 515 mph speed. The rest of the passes were great.


Hi Bobr,

In my post, I said that since it had started with a Merlin, it was probably the right thing to call it, even though technically it had parts from many manufacturers plus some custom-crafted items. The boost system is pure Roll-Royce, anyway.