Author Topic: What kind of WW2 style piston engined fighter could be built circa 2001? (Read 988 times)

GRUNHERZ · « **on:** November 12, 2001, 06:25:00 AM »

Ever wonder about that?

Take all the knowledge gained in WW2 and adding modern advances in engine power, computers, prop design, lighwieght composites, airframe, constuction and systems design then build a "WW2 style" gun armed piston engine fighter. What could we do?

Any ideas what this thing would perform or even look like?

[ 11-12-2001: Message edited by: GRUNHERZ ]

Chaos68 · « **Reply #1 on:** November 12, 2001, 06:38:00 AM »

i bet if the US did it the plane would look NOTHING like a WWII fighter. I'm guessing it would look more like a stealth bomber but smaller. the plane would probably fly at 800mph.(just a guess)

JV44 · « **Reply #2 on:** November 12, 2001, 08:52:00 AM »

HIA!

Maybe be A-10 Warthog with props?

But be warned, it would gave a glass-tail

Andreas (JV44)

... I love the A-10, here in Germany I live near a airbase (Noervenich) whey they be. The sound of the engines and their tight turns in the mountain area here are unbeatable

Pongo · « **Reply #3 on:** November 12, 2001, 11:17:00 AM »

What are the limitations?
Sensors?
robotics?
Proximity fused or guided rounds?

What would a modern Merlin or Db605 look like..
How much HP could they generate in how small a package now? How would it be turboed?
Very few advances applied directly to large piston engines for Air craft usage that I know of. Looking at what they have achieved in tank engines though it leads me to belive that they could make a Griffon look pretty mediocre if they wanted too.

38isPorked · « **Reply #4 on:** November 12, 2001, 11:22:00 AM »

a Titanium Chaing Lightning with 4000HP engines and meeeeaaan 20mm Gatling on nose, fly-by-wire and all nifty avionics and automatic Ch1 Whinin' Betty AI.

AKDejaVu · « **Reply #5 on:** November 12, 2001, 11:30:00 AM »

It wouldn't be a fighter.. it'd be a ground attack plane... and it'd be called the Ov10 Bronco.

AKDejaVu

Boroda · « **Reply #6 on:** November 12, 2001, 12:14:00 PM »

"Seventh Carrier" anyone? I really laughed at the Zeke with 4000hp engine, was it in 5th or 6th book?

Duckwing6 · « **Reply #7 on:** November 12, 2001, 12:20:00 PM »

The late war WW2 prop fighters were about as advanced as you can go with reciprocating engines...

Just look on how long F4Us were actually in ACTIVE service ! And then was another big radial engine powered bird that was in wide use and actaully developed after the war,the A-1 Skyraider..

But as far as speed and performance they'd be no better than their WW2 counter parts, they'd be more reliable, carry more stuff and be more surviveable but that's as far as it goes.

Cheers
DW6

pugg666 · « **Reply #8 on:** November 12, 2001, 12:28:00 PM »

they achieved perfection in the 40's

can't do much better than that

<G,D,R>

Eaglecz · « **Reply #9 on:** November 12, 2001, 12:39:00 PM »

I know your goal santa.
He wanna make FW190A8 put into it new engine and then he will flame HT that A8 FM is crap because he have own A8 and this one flying better

J_A_B · « **Reply #10 on:** November 12, 2001, 02:38:00 PM »

Because of limitations with propellers, performance wouldn't be much better than late 40's planes like the F8F, Spiteful, AD-1 Skyraider and similar aircraft.

I agree though, if the USAF built one, they'd make an ugly POS with crappy performance that costs 10 times whatever anyone else is using, then be afraid to use it in combat because it might get shot down.

J_A_B

funkedup · « **Reply #11 on:** November 12, 2001, 02:58:00 PM »

Top speed is going to run into the same limits that air racers or post-WWII prop fighters ran into. But maneuverability, climb, acceleration, etc. would all be far better than WWII planes if there was a serious (I mean like ATF or ATB) development program. I imagine they could build something the size of a Bearcat with about 1/2 the empty weight and maybe 5 times the horsepower. It would need a lot of props though.

[ 11-12-2001: Message edited by: funkedup ]

K West · « **Reply #12 on:** November 12, 2001, 03:17:00 PM »

Must have copied the url for the wrong plane Pugg

This would have been the penultimate USAAF/USN prop plane:

Westy

Grimm · « **Reply #13 on:** November 12, 2001, 04:59:00 PM »

My Guess It would look like something Burt Rutan builds.

You cant go much faster today with props than they did in the 40s. Nobody has invented the SuperSonic Prop yet. The Big savings might be in weight. Also Piston Engines might be slightly more efficent thus smaller. Still, If its going to have any reliablity, its not going to have a huge increase in HP. I would expect range to improve also.

Hangtime · « **Reply #14 on:** November 12, 2001, 07:07:00 PM »

Take everything that worked on a Mustang, marry it to a Piper Cub, roll 'em into a hanger, turn out the lights and leave a 2000hp turboprop hangin in the attic; leave 'em be fer a coupla months.

'Wallah!'

Piper Enforcer. Circa 1982.