On Fri, 2 Apr 2004 08:41:02 +0100, "Vivian Meazza" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
<snip> >The Spitfire also had a drag-reducing radiator. I think the key _was_ the >wing section. The Spitfire was eventually fitted with a Mustang-like laminar >flow wing, which enabled the aircraft to reach 450+ mph. it was to be known >as the Spiteful. 373 aircraft were originally ordered from a revised >Spitfire F21 contract although production was cancelled with the end of the >war and the introduction into service of the new jet powered Meteor and >Vampire. The aircraft eventually evolved into the Seafang for Royal Navy >service which in its turn was also cancelled. The Spitfire radiator was fitted into the wing. The result was that a sharp turn in the duct was required. This produced turbulent flow through the radiator, largely negating the effect (there was _some_ benefit). Despite its other disadvantages the Spitfire wing had a higher compressibility threshold. Atwood made the point that, discounting losses due to production issues, the Mustang wing needed to be clean and polished to prevent a rapid drop off in efficiency - which didn't always apply in the field. This is one of the reasons why he regarded the radiator arrangement as more important. Rick -- Help the Waterway Recovery Group to help restore the Uks canal network Make a donation to the 'Right Tool' Appeal http://www.wrg.org.uk/cgi-bin/fmaker.pl?appeal.htm _______________________________________________ Flightgear-devel mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://mail.flightgear.org/mailman/listinfo/flightgear-devel
