I couldn't park it without nicking something!
I couldn't park it without nicking something!
Imagine what that line up is worth today.
Ghost fish.
Low Pass Series, episode 20240904 - Martin Baker MB5:
Powered by a Rolls Royce Griffon - similar to a Merlin, with almost 40% more displacement - making about 2000 hp. Top speed of 460 mph, and reportedly a very nice aircraft to fly.
Clearly a lot of lessons learned from the P-51 in its design, though it was an all-British aircraft. Unfortunately it didn't arrive in this form until after the war had ended, and jets were already entering frontline deployment. The sole prototype was scrapped.
In reply to Duke :
Oh, I have a recent pic of one of those! Sort of...
As noted, these don't actually exist, so this guy built one! The engine is there, and does run. The Fuselage and tail are all custom, but the wings are from a P-51 (the MB-5 did have a laminar flow style wing, but I believe it was as different profile than the P-51). The fuselage is of a tube frame construction (like a race car) which is also how the MB5 was built. This allowed the fuselage panels to be easily be removed for very easy maintenance.
He has been working on it for a LONG time, and yes, he may not finish it... but someone likely will. It currently resides in a hanger in Reno NV.
In reply to Gary :
the tomato of nightmares, i swear i saw that damn thing as i was sleeping last night.
Another Griffon-powered "parallel evolution" aircraft that shares a basic form factor but no actual P-51 DNA:
Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation CA-15:
Top speed of "only" 440 mph, so it was a little slower than the MB5 and had a lower service ceiling (the MB5 was rated to 40,000 feet). However it had a climb rate of 4900 ft/min and a 0-20,000 ft time of 5 minutes 30 seconds, since it was meant to be an interceptor.
It was originally designed for an R-2800 radial but availability issues meant they switched to the Griffon V-12. Another well-developed piston aircraft that arrived too late to see combat and was immediately rendered obsolete by jets.
Each one of these seems to be a bit different. I found this one interesting because there are a few more defined regions than I usually see.
Also, look at the far eastern part of Long Island. Apparently it has no culture, OR the designer got a bit sloppy with the dark outline.
Low Pass Series, episode 20240905: Needs No Introduction.
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