Author Topic: Maximum altitude (Read 548 times)

WMDnow · « **on:** June 16, 2007, 12:24:42 PM »

Last night I was just cruising along in my lil F4U-1, and I saw a F4F at 20K. I thought F4F's could only reach up to 12K due to no oxygen masks. So... no more BnZ F4F's at 20K please?

Lusche · « **Reply #1 on:** June 16, 2007, 12:40:47 PM »

Your information is wrong. The F4F-4 was equipped with oxygen system. (If I recall cortectly located in a bay behind the cockpit, together with the battery and other equipment)

WMDnow · « **Reply #2 on:** June 16, 2007, 02:37:01 PM »

Again, I thought it was. But, it would be nice to equip planes with oxygen tanks, so they can go boom. Also, doesnt the wing size have to do with max alt?

evenhaim · « **Reply #3 on:** June 16, 2007, 03:49:17 PM »

no its relavent to maouvering at that alt, look at the ta152 and the ki61 both high alt fighter/interceptors, their wing allow them to manouver freely up at alt where other birds may have a prob

Stoney74 · « **Reply #4 on:** June 18, 2007, 01:38:49 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by WMDnow
Also, doesnt the wing size have to do with max alt?

It's planform has more to do with maneuverability at altitude as the thinner air (gross generalization) affects its aerodynamic properties. The biggest impact on service and absolute ceiling is horsepower. The more horsepower the engine can produce at altitude, the higher the ceiling and the better it performs. That's why the P-47 was so good up high--the engine was still producing 100% horsepower at 30K + feet. The F4F was basically underpowered anyway, so it suffered a greater penalty to performance at higher altitudes as its engine wasn't capable of producing rated HP that high.

A lot of PTO pilots didn't use oxygen because the altitudes they typically flew were lower compared to ETO where a large percentage of the air war took place in excess of 20K feet. The pilots still had oxygen available, but often didn't need it at the more typical PTO altitudes.

NHawk · « **Reply #5 on:** June 18, 2007, 08:24:03 AM »

F4F-4
Length: 28 ft 9 in (8.8 m)
Wingspan: 38 ft 0 in (11.6 m)
Height: 9 ft 2.5 in (2.8 m)
Wing area: 260 ft² (24.2 m²)
Empty weight: 5,760 lb (2,610 kg)
Maximum gross takeoff weight: 7,950 lb (3,610 kg)
Powerplant: 1x Pratt & Whitney R-1830-86 double-row radial engine, 1,200 hp (895 kW)
Maximum speed: 320 mph (515 km/h)
Range: 770 miles (1,240 km)
Service ceiling: 39,500 ft (12,000 m)
Rate of climb: 1,950 ft/min (9.9 m/s)
6x 50 caliber (12.7 mm) Browning machine guns
Two 100 lb (45 kg) bombs