how did the f4u have such a low CD,0

[juzz]

Curious; did the RN Corsair II have the spoiler on it's (clipped) wing?

[F4UDOA]

This is truely turning into an idiotic thread.

Juzz,

I would say yes.

[bolillo_loco]

ok then from what I have gathered the lift coefficient would vary depending on the aoa also. one other point of curiosity is you say the aht chart gives lift coefficients for planes using flaps, but the corsair lacks any flap. That doesnt make much sense to me. In the turing performance the 38 w/o the use of any flap is said to be poor just like the 47. in the test compairison of P-63 vs P-51 the P-63 was judged superior to the P-51 and it also goes on to say that when the 38 used its maneouvering flaps it was judged equal to the P-63. so if all planes are using flaps when why does the 38 fall to almost the last in the pack?

also one interesting thing I read on the F4U corsair was that it said with the spoiler the lift coefficient dropped from 2.3 to 1.88

[wells]

The turn results in AHT are 'averages' of turn tests performed from the Joint Fighter Conference, where the results are scattered all over the map...I wouldn't read too much accuracy in that.

[This message has been edited by wells (edited 12-15-2000).]

[bolillo_loco]

wells you also said that you doubt the spoiler had little impact on the plane. it must have had some. it caused the stall of both wings to be more even thus improving the stall habbits of the corsair. also the naca report that I was directed to read said that it lowered the lift coefficient of the wing on the corsair. this would affect turning ability. it lowered the lift coefficient of the wing that produced the most lift and lowered it to with in the limits of the weak wing.

so I do not understand why it is the popular belief that the -4 corsair should turn as well as the -1.

also somebody said that in ath that all the planes but the corsair used flaps, now explain why the 38 doesnt out turn the 51 if flaps were used?

38s with fowler type flaps had to have very large lift coefficients when they used any type of flap vs other american fighters. also even with out the flaps a 38 had a high enough lift coefficient that it could stay with or out turn a 47 with a lighter wing loading. then look at the mustang it is 700lbs lighter than full fuel load. drop the 38 down to the same percentage of fuel and that plane only has an edge over the 38, but it doesnt sound as good when you consider a 38 has a much higher wing loading.

[lazs]

loco... The stall strip was on every Corsair save the very first ones.   the strip did not raise the stall speed so much as change the stall characteristics.  a -4 should turn at least as well as a -1 and probly a little better since they are the same plane with the -4 being slightly heavier but with more HP.  The exception would be the Goodyear Corsair -1's without folding wings and tailhooks.   These Goodyear planes would turn, climb and perform slightly better due to the fact that they would be the lightest of the bunch.
lazs