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Author Topic: Fastest propeller driven fighters in 1945  (Read 9456 times)

Offline AVIATOR

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Fastest propeller driven fighters in 1945
« on: September 10, 2009, 02:31:08 PM »
It took one hell of an engine upgrade, superchargers, massive 14 ft props, higher octane fuel and many other advancements to get that extra mph ahead of the competition. Here are some figures.

P-47n Thunderbolt 460 mph at 30,000 ft.
Mk XIX spitfire 460 mph at 33,000 ft.
F4U-5 Corsair 470 mph at 26.000 ft.
Grumman F8F Bearcat 470 mph at 29,000 ft.
Dornier Do335 Pheil (Arrow) 477 mph at 33,400 ft 

But the fastest fighter was the P-51H 487 mph at 25,000 ft.

The Do335 Arrow the Grumman F8F Beatcat and the P-51H never saw combat in ww2.

Offline F-111 C/C

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Re: Fastest propeller driven fighters in 1945
« Reply #1 on: September 10, 2009, 04:03:24 PM »
I LOVE those Spitfires. Does that Mk XIX have a counter-rotating prop?
Wars are won by carrying the 'heavy iron' downtown!

Offline WRCKid

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Re: Fastest propeller driven fighters in 1945
« Reply #2 on: September 10, 2009, 10:26:32 PM »
Would the de Havilland Mosquito count in this category? it was used a night fighter was it not?



(415 mph, 668 km/h) at 28,000 ft (8,500 m)
« Last Edit: September 10, 2009, 10:30:08 PM by WRCKid »

Offline AVIATOR

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Re: Fastest propeller driven fighters in 1945
« Reply #3 on: September 10, 2009, 11:57:53 PM »
A great aircraft Wreck, but even with two 1470HP Merlins it's maximum operational speed was put at 439mph.

From Wikipedia

By the time testing was over and the Air Ministry had authorised mass production plans to be drawn up on 21 June 1941 the aircraft was the world's fastest operational aircraft. The Air Ministry authorised 19 PR. models and 176 fighters. A further 50 were unspecified. In July 1941 the Air Ministry confirmed these would be unarmed fast bombers. The Mosquito would enjoy its fastest aircraft status for another two and a half years. On 18 and 19 July 1941 M4050 was fitted with Merlin 61s and reached 433 mph (697 km/h) at 28,500 ft (8,690 m). Multiple ejector exhausts contributed to the increase in speed. On 20 October 1941 W4050 achieved a speed of 437 mph (703 km/h) in level flight. Using two-stage Merlin 77s, it reached 439 mph (706 km/h) in December 1943.

And on the Conta rotating props Aard......

The Mk X1X had a contarotating prop. The Mk XX: Had a Bubble hood, 24-volt electics. Some with the massive 2,375 hp Griffon 65 and with a contrarotating prop.
They sure learn a lot in wartime when there is money to throw at everything.
Production: 278
« Last Edit: September 11, 2009, 12:17:14 AM by AVIATOR »

 



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