|
Re: Placing the Fairey Battle.
Brown is clearly wrong on the critical Mach number, which is dependent upon the wing thickness with a modifier for the position of maximum thickness. There is clearly a much greater difference between the Typhoon wing and the Tempest wing than a mere 0.02 would represent.
Why is the speed quoted at 20000ft? Surely this is above the full throttle height of the Sabre? Above this point the thicker wing of the Typhoon could be giving better lift and hence reducing the Tempest's advantage. What is the speed difference at sea-level or full throttle height? However, it is worth pointing out that the Typhoon always was a fast machine in level flight - that was never a reason for criticism. Compressibility due to the thick wing was only important in the dive.
Being passed over in the air-superiority role only means that it was not the best option for that role: the same ruling applied to the P-39 in RAF service which the VVS found a great success. However, the VVS managed to gain air superiority without ever having a fighter with better high-altitude performance than a Typhoon - late Spitfire Mk.IXs excepted, which they retained for PVO use.
|