Radial engine/cowling diameters and external/internal drag

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Pandorum

Airman
15
4
May 19, 2022
Are there data about the diameters of radial engines or their cowlings on the WW2 fighters respectively? For drag comparison.
And is their info about how to duct internal airflow to minimize drag? Which fighters did especially well?
 

tomo pauk

Creator of Interesting Threads
12,950
3,722
Apr 3, 2008
Are there data about the diameters of radial engines or their cowlings on the WW2 fighters respectively? For drag comparison.
And is their info about how to duct internal airflow to minimize drag? Which fighters did especially well?

Getting the data about diameters of radial engines is easy. Much less so about the diameter of their cowlings.
The data about ducting designed so that the drag is reduced - not sure that I've ever read anything about that. Indeed, perhaps the NACA docs can help.
 

Simon Thomas

Airman 1st Class
211
225
Jan 16, 2017
Sarnia, ON
One of many NACA cowling papers:
The references listed will help you track down the rest.
 

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