Posted on 06/16/2020 7:23:35 AM PDT by BenLurkin
I love the sound of those Merlin engines that powered the Spitfires. Amazing that only 9 of them got this thing into space. Wish I could have heard that.
Exactly
Ping!
A new Merlin in a P51 would be a hit at Reno.
I’m betting it’s the kind of roar you feel through your entire chest.
A major (and apparently unsolvable) problem with solid rocket boosters is the large reaction chamber that basically comprises the entire rocket. It produces pressure waves that reverberate back and forth, causing stress and making for a bumpy ride. The larger the rocket, the greater the pressure waves.
Did Merlins power the P51s, too? Very cool.
I’m trying to imagine what that feels like relative to the comfort of sitting in my comfy recliner.
Yeah, buddy. The way NASCAR cars used to.
We are also talking 40 years of different technology.
The P51 used Packards I think. Coffee’s still brewing, so someone correct me if I’m wrong
From Wiki:
The Mustang was designed to use the Allison V-1710 engine, which had limited high-altitude performance in its earlier variants. The aircraft was first flown operationally by the Royal Air Force (RAF) as a tactical-reconnaissance aircraft and fighter-bomber (Mustang Mk I). Replacing the Allison with a Rolls-Royce Merlin resulted in the P-51B/C (Mustang Mk III) model and transformed the aircraft’s performance at altitudes above 15,000 ft (4,600 m) (without sacrificing range),[9] allowing it to compete with the Luftwaffe’s fighters.[10] The definitive version, the P-51D, was powered by the Packard V-1650-7, a license-built version of the two-speed two-stage-supercharged Merlin 66, and was armed with six .50 caliber (12.7 mm) AN/M2 Browning machine guns.[11]
More like the Saturn 1B, just less expensive and more efficient.
They originally were Allison powered then Merlin and
lastly Packard. I believe Packard manufactured the Merlin design.
They all sounded cool. I love air shows where P-51s and B-17s do demonstration flights. Their sound is surpassed only by their beauty.
re: tag line
I have a coffee cup that reads:
Trust your mother but cut the cards...
I confess, I stole mine from a church sign..................
I thought about specifying the p51D immediately after I posted. I remembered there were several variants, but in my def need, P51D is the one we most often see in movies, documentaries, etc
The P-51 started as an Allison engined attack plane and was designated the A-51. The British bought a bunch but were disappointed at the performance of the Allison. They modified the some A-51’s by attaching Rolls Royce Merlins instead and the P-51 was born.
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