S! Pyro
The performance of the P-47 D Razorback with water injection and paddle blade propellor was significantly better than the later model P-47 D’s, and far improved over the Razorbacks without paddle blades.
Here are some more quotes from Robert Johnson, in particular from the first mission to Munster:
“With four Messerschmitts directly beneath me, I rolled to my left to pull in directly behind them. My fighter quivered, and began to shake badly, as if partially stalled. The next thing I knew, I was in a dive and wow! What a dive! I hauled back on the stick, afraid the engine would tear right out of the mounts. What I didn’t realize was that the new propellor was making all the difference. I called to Gabreski, “Get ‘em Gabby! Something’s wrong with my Ship!”
He returned to base to have his fighter checked. A few days later during a test flight he realized what he was feeling was the greatly increased pull of the prop:
“But what a difference these blades made. At 8,000 feet I pulled the Thunderbolt into a steep climb. Normally she’d zoom quickly and then slow down, rapidly approaching a stall. But now – the Jug soared up like she’d gone crazy. Another Thunderbolt was in the air and I pulled alongside, signalling for a climb. I’m not an engineering officer, and I don’t know the exact feet per minute that we climbed. But I left that other fighter behind as if he were standing still. The Jug stood on her tail and howled her way into the sky.”
Of course as Johnson says, these are seat of the pants impressions, not scientific tests. But obviously there was a significant improvement.
Prior to discovering Flight Sims, I had the opportunity to see some data re. the relative efficiency of the Paddle Blade props versus the ordinary ‘toothpick’ props. My memory was that there was a very significant difference. Unfortunately I have not been able to find that data source again. But I know it is out there and I’ll bet you or some of the other very knowledgeable people on this board probably have access to this information.
Even though there is probably not factory acceleration or climb data available for D11’s equipped with paddle blade props, it should still be relatively easy to extrapolate the likely performance of a modified D11. Using the figures from the D-25 and D-30 and factoring the weight difference should provide a good approximation.
AH deserves a Razorback Jug with the performance which it historically had. This aircraft was crucial to the victory of the 8th A.A.F., and should be represented in all its glory.
