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Re: What were the weight savings from removing FW 190 outer wing cannons?
For a WW2 fighter at maximum speed, the lift-induced drag will only be some 10-15% of the total drag. If the 200kg weight increase was 5% of the weight of the fighter (What is the weight of an Fw.190?) , then you are looking at 5% of 15%, or less than 1% increase in total drag. As drag is proportional to speed squared, so you will get no more than 1% change in top speed. This comment appears to be supported by the FW estimate quoted above.
A difference of 1% is less than that expected between adjacent aircraft off the production line, or from consecutive flight trials, and is about the measurement accuracy of the time. This is the background to arguing that weight does not affect top speed. Strictly speaking, yes it does. Practically speaking, it does not.
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