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Post by komata on Mar 25, 2014 19:04:06 GMT 12
Can any of the forum give an opinion concerning Miles King's high speed dive in a Corsair (flying out of Ardmore from memory), a dive in which the aircraft's fabric control surfaces were badly shredded.
I have read King's own description of the affair in his autobiography, and seen photos of the damaged areas, but would be interested in other's opinions about the possible speed he would have attained.
The gentleman himself was convinced it was in the very high Mach numbers, but I am not sure that the actual speed was as high as he may have believed, due to airframe drag and propeller speeds.
I have never seen this discussed anywhere, so would be interested in any opinions that might be offered.
Thanks.
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Post by thomarse on Mar 25, 2014 19:18:22 GMT 12
Definitely a very close encounter with Vne.
Transonic? Don't know.......
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Post by starr on Mar 26, 2014 5:51:01 GMT 12
Read pages 78 - 80 in my cousin Bryan Cox's book "Too Young To Die". There is a Pilots Report by Miles King printed there.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 26, 2014 6:45:08 GMT 12
Miles King was not the only one to do this. The same day Trevor Pearce also dived his Corsair with a very similar effect, though he did not experience the fabric tears on his control surfaces. It scared the crap out of him and it was only when he landed and heard everyone else talking about King's aircraft that he realised how lucky he was not to have pushed it too far. I was sure he wrote this in his book, which is online on my website, bit I cannot fond it, so perhaps he just told me about it personally. Not sure. I know we discussed it at some point.
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Post by flyjoe180 on Mar 26, 2014 9:25:39 GMT 12
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Post by errolmartyn on Mar 26, 2014 10:21:42 GMT 12
The accident card for this event adds the following 'Remark':
Investigation reveals that maximum permissable speeds given in various pilots handling notes are contradictory. These have been standardised in accordance with latest information to hand (AOC).
Errol
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Post by komata on Mar 26, 2014 12:01:50 GMT 12
Thanks folks for the answers; so the 'King aircraft attained 530 knots 609 mph) or (0.80 Mach).
Given the size of the Corsair, and its 'relatively' un-streamlined shape, the speed that Mr.King attained was certainly a respectable figure. It's interesting to compare that speed with the highest authentically-recorded for a Spitfire (690 mph / 0.94 Mach) which was attained by a Met' Flight aircraft out of Kai Tak on 2 May 1952. Evidently inline engines did have some advantages in respect of low frontal area and shape.
For comparison, can someone please advise the speed that the 'Pearce' aircraft attained, as until now, I was not aware of the existence of the book referred-to?
Finally (and only because it relates to 'very' high speed piston-engined flight): Various US aviation magazines are insistent that the P-47 exceeded the speed of sound in a dive, a statement that has been repeated for many years. The limitations imposed by the aircraft's propellor would,I understand, preclude such an action, while the buffeting associated with trans-sonic flight would do the airframe no favours. However, the story persists, although I can never seem to 'pin down' a definitive statement to confirm that this occurred.
Notably, the P-51D is not credited with the same accomplishment, while the P-38 and DC-8 are both credited with supersonic flight, so make of that what you will..
Any thoughts for or against?
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 26, 2014 16:48:35 GMT 12
Trevor Pearce's book is here on my site. He wrote it for his own amusement and his family but he kindly allowed me to publish it. It's a fun read and very interesting. www.cambridgeairforce.org.nz/Trevor%20Pearce%20Book.htmSadly I fear he is probably no longer with us, last time I talked with him he'd been diagnosed with cancer and it didn't look good. He's no longer in the phone book and didn't answer my last email, so sadly I think Trevor's departed this life. A great bloke. |
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