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Re: Mosquito speed over Bf 109 and Fw-190
I don't doubt that's what it says, but it isn't possible. No Mosquito could get that close to Mach 1. I don't know its limiting Mach number but it must be around 0.8M or 530 kts True, (580 mph) The reasons why would not have been understood at the time outside of a comparatively small number of specialists, so it wouldn't set any flashing lights going in the minds of the normal squadron pilots or intelligence officers.
480 kts True would have been exciting enough, and a misunderstanding based on that is another possibility, but I suspect a large pressure error due to compressibility is the likeliest cause. There is quite an amazing list of aircraft that supposedly went above Mach 1 around the end of WW2, but it was all due to pressure errors (and a bit of wishful thinking).
NOTE: knots are about 10% above mph. Correction due to Martin Giles.
Last edited by Graham Boak; 14th April 2013 at 17:15.
Reason: In case people stop here without proceeding to Martin's post.
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