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Old 22-08-2005, 01:56 AM   #7 (permalink)
adrian roberts
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Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: NW Kent, England
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Adam
Great stuff - and you're not even getting paid for this!
One query:
Quote:
The P51 Mustang, of course, was also a brilliant fighter..... Its high speed - 40mph faster than a Merlin engined Spitfire - was due to its then revolutionary laminar flow wing
What about the theory that the P51's speed was at least partly due to the jet effect from the vortex nozzle shape of the radiator airflow duct - i.e. the radiator was employed to heat the air as it passed through so that it expanded and could be used to provide thrust? This theory was presented in Aeroplane a few years back in an article by the North American executive who originally liaised with the RAF. Can't remember his name but I think I kept the issue so may be able to find it.

Adrian
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