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Subject:
RE:Prop fighter evolution
doggtag
6/22/2004 4:14:16 PM
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| The Martin Baker (now known for ejection seats) MB-5 promised to be a very capable aircraft: very similar to a chopped P-51.
The Grumman cats, namely F7F Tigercat and F8F Bearcat, were also promising. Then there was the XF5U "Flying Pancake". And more powerful versions of the P-47 (the XP-72) and aircraft such as the Vultee P-54 "Swoose Goose" (a twin-boom pusher aircraft), P-55 Ascender (a Burt Rutan-esque EZE looking aircraft), P-67 "Moonbat" (an early attempt at blended wing/body aircraft), and P-75 Eagle (which would have made a very effective fighter bomber) all could have become production aircraft. And the F-82 Twin Mustang of Korean War fame could have come about sooner. And for that matter, the B-36 bomber was drawn up initially as an America-to-Germany and back bomber that evolved into the massive 6 pusher radial engined beast it was (coupled to two twin jet pods...the reason for the "6 turning, 4 burning" call when taking off). Germany had a few good late war ideas, namely the Do 335 Pfeil (fore and aft propellors). Japan also had some decent aircraft in the later Kawanishi Ki-series. But both Axis nations were severely running out of production facilities and resources.
And if you think that modern jet engines are themselves impressive technology, then look at a cutaway cross section of an old 28 cylinder radial engine with all its mechanical complexities. That such a device was designed in the days prior to CAD programs is truly a remarkable achievemnent to the engineers of the day.
Had jet engines not progressed, it is possible the XB-35 flying wing bomber would have made production, along with the "Mixmaster" medium bomber, which used a large, contra-rotating propellor in its tail. The big B-32 Dominator (very late in the Pacific theater, in very limited numbers) would have made more headlines than it did.
There were also several promising carrier-based attack planes under consideration prior to the jet age (such as the impressive AM-1 Mauler): one of those actually made production, the A-1 Skyraider.. |
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