Quote:
Originally Posted by John Beaman
FalkeEins is correct about GZik's machine. Early production G-14/AS machines did not have the "bumps" under the lower cowling as was typical of MTT machines. As with so many other things "109", Erla took their own path.
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Well, John, this is a case where (strangely) it was MTT to take its own path...
In fact, there was absolutely no need for a DB 605 AS engine of the two "chin" bulges, which were requested only by the DB 605 D, as they were associated to a new (enlarged) water tubing running just below the engine in that point and requesting more "depth"...
The Erla G-14/ASs (identified as "early" because their production ceased rather soon) correctly had the standard lower cowl (their
own path was resumed when the production of their G-10s was planned, since they redesigned a completely new lower cowl rather than adopt the "chin" bulges....)
MTT instead, apparently with no technical reason, adopted for the G-14/ASs of their production, the lower "twin-chin bulged" cowl which for so many years was associated to the so-called "standard" G-10 and to the K-4. I repeat, with no technical reason, as it is proved by several photographs of abandoned/captured G-14/ASs (identified also by the lower oil filler point which meant the old "horseshoe" oil tank associated with the AS engine) with the lower "chin-bulged" cowl open and absolutely no trace of the protuding tubing which was to be associated with it...
The only reason for this choice seems to have been the wide availability of those types of lower cowls already used in the production of the K-4 which was by late 1944 the only other version produced by MTT.
A few years ago I posted a thread with photographs in another forum, but I guess it is all gone by now...
