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I'll open this up initially for the forum to chime in with what their ideas on what this could've been like, though I do have to provide my broad idea for it. I do imagine at the basic, fundamental level, it's probably be like half a Hornet (half the size, half the power), and powered by at least a Merlin 60 series engine with room to go up to the Merlin 100 series. I'm also sort of inspired by the original Hornet design brief of two Merlin 60 series engines, and a weight of 15,000 lbs clean combat.
Probably the 2nd or 3rd.Now, would it be mostly wood, like the Mosquito, wood and metal like a Hornet, or mostly metal with wooden components like the Vampire?
For a British airplane you pretty much have got to use a least two 20mm guns plus assorted machine guns. Or plop the standard four 20mm guns and ammo (120rpg?) inside the wings.And IMO wing thickness is why I don't think, even with the Merlin's reduced cooling requirements compared to things like the Griffon or Sabre, that the wing leading edge radiators like on the Mosquito or Hornet would work well. The wings on the Hornet or Mosquito were a bit thicker than a normal single seater's wings, and packaging made the wing roots between the fuselage and engine nacelles an ideal place to put them.
I think that a Merlin powered DH single engine single seater would run a Mustang-like ventral radiator. By 1942 the Meredith effect was fairly well known, though execution was a bit hit and miss, though knowing about the Mustang and the Mosquito's own radiator design would be a big help there. And for a good Meredith radiator--as well as simple packaging--the fuselage would probably be favored.
Radiator system on Hornet was catering for 3 things: coolant, oil, and intercooler, one per side. On a 1-engined A/C, the radiators can be distributed on both wings' leading edges, thus fit nicely for the '1/2 Hornet'.And IMO wing thickness is why I don't think, even with the Merlin's reduced cooling requirements compared to things like the Griffon or Sabre, that the wing leading edge radiators like on the Mosquito or Hornet would work well. The wings on the Hornet or Mosquito were a bit thicker than a normal single seater's wings, and packaging made the wing roots between the fuselage and engine nacelles an ideal place to put them.
Then I have two questions: Would a wing with the profile/thickness of the Vampire or Hornet be applicable to a single seat, single engine fighter powered by a piston engine (Merlin in this case), and could it house not just the radiators, but landing gear (inward retracting and wide track) and 4x20mm cannons (two in each wing) with say 150-200 rpg?
And where would you store the fuel (at least ideally), especially since I'm also looking for this to be a (relatively) long range aircraft (again, the half a Hornet deal, so it can be used as an escort fighter and long range pursuit interceptor).
Vickers was pretty busy early to mid war. Ignoring Supermarine and the Spitfire development and start of Seagull design there were of the top of my head:Of all the British manufacturers, would Vickers have been the best able to take on a new fighter project mid war?
Obviously I'm sort of partial to the Vampire's wing, given the Vampire's maneuverability (though the Vampire is a good bit heavier than what I'm looking at for a Merlin-powered single seater with one engine). But is it thick enough to house leading edge radiators (not counting the Goblin's engine intakes), and house the fuel and cannon armament, and inward retracting landing gear units (wheels may be fully or partially housed in the fuselage)?
Best-case scenario is that the design results with a British P-51D, abilities-wise? About 30 mph faster than Spitfire on same power, 70-100% more of internal fuel, although with 4 cannons instead of 6 HMGs as on the P-51D.
Possible ways to achieve this include a much better radiator design than the Spitfire IX, modern airfoil, fully covered U/C when retracted, shallower/circular windscreen, application of production techniques from Mosquito.
Probably looking like a baby Fury/Tempest