How fast could a propeller driven piston powered plane theoretically go ?

[Jukka]

If you have all the knowledge and means to get there....what could it be ?

Is it M0.92 ?

I have been modelling a V-tailed "mustang" with extra hyper fast ram air effect system. It looks extremely fast. With slight v-form ie "sweep" in the wing.

[Jukka]

Re: How fast could a propeller driven piston powered plane theoretically go ?

Sam Bousfield and Eric Ahlstrom introduced the DART racer in 2003.

It was supposedly a M0.82 mover.

https://www.tiede.fi/s3/files/styles...?itok=5ewkT35Q

[Jukka]

Re: How fast could a propeller driven piston powered plane theoretically go ?

Napier-Heston J.5 was supposed to go 480 mph in 1940.

https://oldmachinepress.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/napier-heston-racer-front-3-4-2.jpg

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napier-Heston_Racer

[ignomini]

Re: How fast could a propeller driven piston powered plane theoretically go ?

There are various stats in various places, but the AFS lists top speed of the Tu-95 as 925 kmh, although they don't list an associated altitude. I believe it is the fastest propellor driven machine, though obviously not piston powered.

Would be very interesting to see what the Bear, Voodoo, or Strega could achieve at altitude today.

Per Air & Space:

https://www.airspacemag.com/history-of-flight/mach-1-assaulting-the-barrier-22647052/?c=y&page=2

In this article, they quote Yeager as saying, in a P-51 he achieved .81 mach in a vertical dive from max altitude. Even with mods, I expect it would be tough to get there in level flight. Yeager said Hoover was along side in a P-47 at mach .805. That I'll admit, sounds like a Yeager-y story.

[CubersWrist]

Re: How fast could a propeller driven piston powered plane theoretically go ?

Technical paper on the DART racer

http://aero-comlab.stanford.edu/Papers/AIAA-2000-4341-839.pdf

[Jukka]

Re: How fast could a propeller driven piston powered plane theoretically go ?

Do you think it would have to be a pusher ?

[Jukka]

Re: How fast could a propeller driven piston powered plane theoretically go ?

Does anyone have CAD file (dwg block) of a sideview of a Merlin engine ? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolls-Royce_Merlin

[Jukka]

Re: How fast could a propeller driven piston powered plane theoretically go ?

Sam Bousfield and supersonic prop claim; http://www.eaavideo.org/detail/video...-sam-bousfield

[Jukka]

Re: How fast could a propeller driven piston powered plane theoretically go ?

I find it very hard to draw a racer in the size of a Heston J.5 ( same length as Thunder Mustang ) using a 225 cm long engine (Merlin 61). This has now space for 300 gallons of fuel.

[Jukka]

Re: How fast could a propeller driven piston powered plane theoretically go ?

FAT MAMA is 80 cm longer than Heston J.5.

Herbie's song Fat Mama; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEtiaSSRGSE


The good thing about design above is the 290 gallons of fuel and ability to have a 4 metre dia prop.

It can also be made light and transonic in speed.

[Jukka]

Re: How fast could a propeller driven piston powered plane theoretically go ?

Some horsepowers could also be squeezed from 2 of these; https://www.hemmings.com/blog/articl...c-472-500-v-8/

I figure 2 x 400 hp = 800 hp.

I wonder if it was eligible for sports class ?

[Jukka]

Re: How fast could a propeller driven piston powered plane theoretically go ?

Chrysler HEMi looks good too;https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysler_Hemi_engine

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XJE-2KNH-Y

[Jukka]

Re: How fast could a propeller driven piston powered plane theoretically go ?

Spitfire M0.92 in a dive; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supermarine_Spitfire

[Jukka]

Re: How fast could a propeller driven piston powered plane theoretically go ?

Also M0.96 claim.

On 5 February 1952, a Spitfire 19 of 81 Squadron based at Kai Tak in Hong Kong reached probably the highest altitude ever achieved by a Spitfire. The pilot, Flight Lieutenant Edward Ted Cyril Powles,[130] was on a routine flight to survey outside air temperature and report on other meteorological conditions at various altitudes in preparation for a proposed new air service through the area. He climbed to 50,000 ft (15,000 m) indicated altitude, with a true altitude of 51,550 ft (15,710 m). The cabin pressure fell below a safe level, and in trying to reduce altitude, he entered an uncontrollable dive which shook the aircraft violently. He eventually regained control somewhere below 3,000 ft (910 m) and landed safely with no discernible damage to his aircraft. Evaluation of the recorded flight data suggested he achieved a speed of 690 mph (1,110 km/h), (Mach 0.96) in the dive, which would have been the highest speed ever reached by a propeller-driven aircraft if the instruments had been considered more reliable.[127]

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westland_Whirlwind_(fighter)

Whirlwind with swept wing and 2/3 size with 2 x HEMIs could go fast too.

[Jukka]

Re: How fast could a propeller driven piston powered plane theoretically go ?

Beautiful PRSU for a LS3 V-8; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2-Ajw1Rx-4

Same for a pair of HEMI 392s and you have 1060 hp out put ! Cool or what ?

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2 x Falconers would deliver 1280 hp.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falconer_V-12