Thumpalumpacus
Major
How sure were the Allies that jet-power would pan out in time?
Who would you want to design your fighter - 1943
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How sure were the Allies that jet-power would pan out in time?
Howard Gibson
Senior Airman
It was understood during WWII that propeller driven aircraft had an absolute maximum speed of 500 to 600mph. Jets were new and they needed debugging, and in 1943, the panic had not set in yet. If the enemy figures them out and you don't, you are in trouble.
Lots of excellent piston engined fighters were not developed late in the war, because it was obvious they needed jets. Think of the Republic XP-72, and the Hawker Fury.
They can not be sure, oh missed one part in the my previous post, they can design one (propeller) but it will not to go in mass production
You are bit optimistic on this, now (1989) the speed record for piston engined airplane is 528 mph
Thumpalumpacus
Major
Right, having backstop designs in case the jet engines require more development than anticipated.
Thumpalumpacus
Major
That's 500-600 mph, as he specified. At the time, I think prop fighters were right at about 500 mph.
SaparotRob
Unter Gemeine Geschwader Murmeltier XIII
Figure I'll stir it up a bit. Lockheed L-133.
Your mission is ours.
Your mission is ours.
SaparotRob
Unter Gemeine Geschwader Murmeltier XIII
Figure I'll stir it up a bit. Lockheed L-133.
Your mission is ours
Your mission is ours
Shortround6
Major General
Turns out that the piston engines and propellers for 500mph fighters needed a lot of development too.
GrauGeist
Generalfeldmarschall zur Luftschiff Abteilung
Compare the L-133 to the F-104 (more than just coincidence?) and you see that even *if* the L-133 were built, it would not be a fighter, but an interceptor (like the Starfighter.
In regards to jet/piston engine aircraft, the U.S. had several mixed power types in development like the Ryan FR, Curtiss XF15C, Consolidated XP-81, etc.
1989 is not WW2, WW2 propeller fighters limit is more in the around of 475 mph
wuzak
Captain
528moh was at low(ish) altitude.
High performance WW2 fighters set their maximum speeds at higher altitudes.
at6
1st Sergeant
I vote for Kurt Tank since he was a visionary in aircraft design.
True and was a specialized racer for that altitude, not a fighter,
i know was, in theory, a F-8F
I would pick Richard Vogt.
His P212, while it never went past wind tunnel/mockup stage, could pass for a modern stealth drone.
There were plenty of visionary aircraft designers in Germany at the time: Alexander Lippish, Eugen Sanger, the Horten brothers...
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Howard Gibson
Senior Airman
Rare Bear is WWII technology. It does not matter that it flew in 1989.
A racing aircraft has the advantage that it only has to be fast at something below 10,000ft. You don't care about anything else. In a WWII Bearcat, you need performance up to at least 25,000ft. In a Mustang or Thunderbolt, it is more like up to 35,000ft, or even 40,000ft. A racing aircraft does not need a powerful supercharger, or the additional turbocharger.
Howard Gibson
Senior Airman
It is too bad Reginald Mitchell did not survive. The subsequent Supermarine designs were not as good as the Spitfires. Failing that, Kurt Tank and Edgar Schmued are good choices.
I'm not agree, possible the airframe, but i'm not sure*, was WW2 technology, not hope on the power regime of the engine
* it is possible was lightened more of that of WW2 technology would have allowed
Howard Gibson
Senior Airman
Racing aircraft are not grabbed on landing by tailhooks. You can take advantage of that. How aerobatic are racing aircraft?
The costs of developing an air racing engine and structure are prohibitive. The big engines were needed for stuff other than air racing back in WWII.
Clayton Magnet
Staff Sergeant
- 904
- Feb 16, 2013
Sort of, in the fact that versions of the F8F and R-3350 were around during the war years, but Rare Bear "bears" little resemblance to a WWII fighter anymore.
From what I understand, and correct me if I am wrong, but the aircraft broke the speed record with a DC-7 engine and prop, a modified EC-121 supercharger, nitrous injection and 80 inches of manifold pressure running 180 octane, specially blended race gas, and a boil-off oil cooler. Not to mention the EXTENSIVLY modified airframe.
not really WWII technology
I think Dago Red runs a LUDICROUS 150 in/Hg boost, which is equal parts bonkers and awesome
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