WIX Archives
Re: Fastest Prop Warbird?
Posted by Steve T on Tue Jan 06, 2004 10:56:07 PM
In reply top Re: Fastest Prop Warbird? posted by Dan K on Mon Jan 05, 2004 10:12:45 PM
Dan--
: Apparently the highest speed achieved by a piston-engined
: aircraft in level flight during the war years was by the X
: P-47J. The figure given is 507 mph using war emergency po
: wer at an altitude of 34,300 ft.
Very fitting for an aircraft that was nicknamed "Superman"! Hmmm. Worth reconstructing a J-model Jug...?
Another real swifty (and a beauty, too) was the Sabre-Tempest Mk.I prototype, the version with the rads in the inboard wings. 499mph reported; don't remember the altitude. Early Furies and Hornets put up some impressive numbers too but I don't think any of those could touch the Tempest I.
: Figure given for the F2G-1 at altitude was "only" 431 mph
: (a real slug!).
Yep, the F2G was purpose built for speed down low and for a stellar rate of climb--it was a 4360 cu-in "flyswatter" for Kamikazes! Or at least that was the intention. (Notably, of some ten built, half finished up as racers and two of the four postwar Thompson races were won by F2Gs).
S.