I gnue u gnue dat.......
First aircraft with a laminar flow wing design which shifted the highest point of the chord much further aft. Result was much lower drag but no loss of lift. Pretty amazing when you realize the Brits wanted North American to build them P-40s under license and NA said they could build a much better aircraft for the same money. They were right. When the Brits tested the Mustang I with Allison engine, it was much faster than any other fighter at low to medium altitude. Fitting the Merlin as an experiment was inevitable. 444 mph for the first prototype. Taz Terry Phillips
One of the great stories in aviation. I have read an analysis of the radiator on the P-51 as also giving it a tremendous boost in thrust and added to its efficiency and by getting the intake lip outside of the stagnant flow under the fuselage . The DO-335 used the same type of radiator for its rear engine. Some claim that the radiator was the real breakthrough but I, like Taz, think that the airfoil had a lot to do with it too. The Merlin had a two stage supercharger that the Allison did not have, thus giving it better high altitude performance. The Rolls also did not suffer from valve float at high RPM and benefited from having a wide open intake plenum instead of an old fashioned convoluted intake manifold for better breathing. More poop with less cubes.
The Merideth Effect is the term used to describe the drag caused by the scoop is negated by the thermal expansion of the ram air as it exits the door at the rear of the rad. Makes for a good deal. No drag to cool the momo. Plus there is forward thrust derived from each ex stack. All in all, a very advanced airplane for its time. Taz is right. The fastest 51 is the A model. Will lap a stock 51 at Reno in 8 laps. Heres one for you Bob....the Allison guys say 'you can fly an Allison further than you can ship a Merlin'. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Don't know that. never tried to ship a Merlin but I got to fly behind one in a P-51 and the response to throttle inputs is startling the first time you experience it. Also the heat from the exhaust was over powering with the canopy open. My first thought was a bit panicky because I was suffocating. My second thought was , " My God! What a waste of energy to pump all that heat overboard without making it do some work." Not very efficient but man what a bunch of thrilling fun! Second to that was flying a 450 Stearman, a real kick. Switches
And, incredible as it might sound, the possibility that a descendant of the P-51 may serve in the USAF has been raised. The Piper Enforcer may yet get its chance: http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2009/08/air-force-to-get-new-light-fighter/
I had an awesome weekend that relates to this thread. For those of you who didnt know Don Hinz's "Tuskegee Airman" has been rebuilt after the tragic death of the great man that was Don Hinz in 2004. Gerry Beck's (rest in peace) Tri state aviation In Whatpaton ND (about an hour south of me) and a number of volunteers have rebuilt the plane back to painstaking standards, as it would happen a close friend of the family was one of the volunteers. And low and behold the P51 will be based at Fleming Field in St Paul, MN (about 10 minutes from my house in the cities). Well i got a call from my friend and he told me to come out the Fleming field because they were finally going to get it there after its venture to Oshkosh. Im Glad to see the plane was rebuilt and it truly is a gorgeous site to behold. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eM9D5Odclpo http://wcco.com/local/P51.mustang.restoration.2.1116594.html
