Spinners

[spicmart]

Is there any difference in drag between pointed (allies, japanese) ones and blunt ones (germans).

 

[FLYBOYJ]

To just compare spinners is comparing apples and oranges. You would have to look into how that spinner is designed into the fuselage.

 

[spicmart]

The Me 109 (from F up) had a very large spinner in diameter. So I guess that a pointed spinner would have been too long.
They eventually made it blunt.
As for the Fw 190, its spinner was comparable to the ones of allied aircraft, yet it is more blunt.
Why is that?

 

[tyrodtom]

Most of the Bf109,s had engine mounted cannons, there's no way not to have a blunt spinner when it has to accomindate a cannon muzzle.

About the only allied aircraft with a really pointed spinner I can think of is the P-40 , maybe P-38's, though i'm sure someone else can think of others.

I think it was just some designers sense of style.

 

[N4521U]

Another factor would be method of manufacture.
Press punched, or spun on a lathe over a wood mold.
I have a spinner used as a lamp shade mounted to a small AC cylinder, and I believe it was spun.

 

[spicmart]

One would assume that the pointed spinners if one can call them so are less draggy.
But I don't know too much about aerodynamics.

 

[altsym]

Not just cannon consideration, I'm sure wind tunnel tests provided valuable data, as shown here with this prototype 'F' series.

 

[stona]

That's a Bf 109 E-3 in the wind tunnel. Stammkennzeichen WL IGKS (previously D IGKS). Notice also the early position of the swastika across the rudder hinge line.

Here's an image of the same aircraft at the same establishment showing one of the several "standard" Emil spinners.

Cheers

Steve

 

[altsym]

Yeah 'E' series.. typo on my part, thanks.

 

[vikingBerserker]

I have a spinner used as a lamp shade mounted to a small AC cylinder, and I believe it was spun.

Ok, you have to post a pic of that!

 

[N4521U]

It's in a box, dismantled, unfortunately I have nowhere to use it here, or I would.