Photo of the week
-
This midweeks photo.
A wonderful shot of Douglas DST-144 N16002 c/n 1496 American Airlines 117 with a 1936 Lincoln Zephyr.
-
This weekends photo.
P-51D Mustang flown by Lt C W Ofsthun at Leiston of the 357th FG, 363rd FS S/N 44-14977, "The Count".
Carroll Ofsthun named his plane after the cartoon character "Carroll the Count". He was wingman for Chuck Yeager on the day that Chuck shot down 5 e/a, becoming 'Ace in a Day'. Carroll is credited with shooting down an Me262.
-
This weekends extra.
A-1H Skyraider, serial number 139778 ‘Bubbles 'n Bust’ of the 602nd SOS operating out of the Royal Thai Air Base Nakhon Phanom circa 1970.
-
This midweeks photo.
Royal Aircraft Factory SE5a aircraft of B Flight, No. 74 Squadron, Royal Air Force, at Clairmaris South airfield, France.
-
-
This weekends extra.
XP-51B-41-37352.
The limitation of the Allison V-12 became very appearant over 15,000 feet and especially over 20,000. It was an excellent low-altitude performer. The Rolls Royce Merlins installed in the Brittish Spitfires and Huricanes performed beautifully at altitude. The two-stage supercharger kept pumping in induction air as the aircraft climbed. It was only a matter of time before this marriage took place.
On April 30, 1942 Rolls Royce senior test pilot Ron Harker was invited to fly the Mustang I. He was delighted with the aircraft's handling but felt its performance was held back by its engine. He stated that the Mustang would be a natural for the Merlin 61 series. Harker pressed the Defence Ministry to approve such a change. Permission was finally given and The Brittish, in June 1942, began the fitting of the Merlin 61 to a Mustang I. They used five Mustang Is (serials AM121, AM208, AL975, AM203, and AL963) and the first flew in October 1942 with a re-designation of Mustang X. None of these Mustang Xs were exactly the same. Engineers were trying different techniques and solutions to the new installation.
Meanwhile, the Americans had been interested in using the Packard Merlin in the Mustang and on July 25, 1942 the US authorized a similar conversion designated NA-101, XP-51B. Two ships, 41-37352 and 41-37421 were taken for the conversions. The XP-51B had to be strengthened for the added power and a new propeller by Hamilton Standard was designed.
The Merlin 61 V-12 with its two-stage compressor really cooked the air before it entered the carburetor. An intercooler had to be installed to cool the intake air. The Brittish installed the intercooler under the engine near the intake trunk of the Mustang X. The Americans put the intercooler in the doghouse assembly with the coolant radiator under the fuselage. This reduced the size of the cowlings around the new engine but increased the size of the belly scoop area.
The first flight by Bob Chilton was on November 30, 1942. NAA was very pleased with the results (might have been some jumping up and down with excitment). The new Mustang reached 441 mph at 29,000 plus feet. At this altitude, the XP-51B would simply run away from an Allison Mustang that was nearly 100 mph slower.
Orders for the new P-51B were placed in August of 1942, months before the test flights. P-51A production was cut short to make room for the new Merlin powered Mustangs. During this time period Packard was working with Rolls Royce to build their Merlin series V-12s in the U.S. The negotiations were successful and Packard began the produce V-1650-3 Merlins for the new P-51B.
-
This midweeks photos.
Some wonderful shots of RAAF Supermarine Spitfires Mk VIII's taken in Australia 44.
-
This weekends photo.
Three German pilots pose in front of an Albatros D.V of Jasta Boelke circa 1917/18.
-
This weekends extra.
An Italian pilot (second from left) talks with American soldiers at an airfield in Sicily shortly after his arrival in Allied-liberated territory. Italian Macchi M.C.200 Saetta (Arrow) planes, in which the pilots flew to the Allied base, are seen in the background, 1943
-
This midweeks photos.
And some very famous shots of the "Wolfpack" taken on May 25Th 1943 from a B-24.Only two of the six pilots would survive hostilities.
.png?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds)
