Hostname: page-component-7bb8b95d7b-cx56b Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-09-12T04:15:45.383Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

A CFD evaluation of three prominent World War II fighter aircraft

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 July 2016

D. Lednicer
D. Lednicer*
Affiliation:
Analytical Methods , Redmond, Washington, USA
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The results of a computational fluid dynamics analysis of three prominent World War II fighter aircraft, the Supermarine Spitfire, North American P-51 Mustang and Focke Wulf Fwl90 are presented. The goal of this analysis was to learn the strengths and weaknesses inherent in the aerodynamics of these aircraft. Design features covered include comparisons of the wing designs and calculated total wetted areas along with a look at specific details of the aerodynamics of each aircraft. This information, while historical, still has relevance in today's world of aircraft design.

Type
Technical Note
Information
The Aeronautical Journal , Volume 99 , Issue 986 , July 1995 , pp. 238 - 242
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Aeronautical Society 1995 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. Maskew, B. Prediction of subsonic aerodynamic characteristics: a case for low-order panel methods, AIAA Paper 81-0252, presented at the AIAA 19th Aerospace Sciences Meeting, St Louis, Missouri, 12-15 January 1981.Google Scholar
2. Curle, H. A Two-parameter method for calculating the two-dimensional incompressible laminar boundary layer, Aeronaut J, February 1967, 71, (2), pp 117–123.Google Scholar
3. Thwaites, B. Approximate calculation of the laminar boundary layer, Aeronaut Q, 1949 1, pp 245–280.Google Scholar
4. Granville, P.S. The Calculation of the Viscous Drag of Bodies of Revolution, David W. Taylor Model Basin Report 849, 1953.Google Scholar
5. Nash, J.F. and Hicks, J.G. An integral method including the effect of upstream history on the turbulent shear stress, Proceedings of Computational Turbulent Boundary Layers, 1968 AFOSR-IFP Stanford Conference, Vol 1, Stanford University Press, Stanford, California, 1969.Google Scholar
6. Lednicer, D.A. and Gilchrist, I.J. A retrospective: Computational aerodynamic analysis methods applied to the P-51 Mustang, AIAA Paper 91-3288, presented at the AIAA 9th Applied Aerodynamics Conference, Baltimore, Maryland, 23-25 September, 1991.Google Scholar
7. Morgan, E.B. and Shacklady, E. Spitfire The History, Key Publishing, Stamford Lincs, England, 1987.Google Scholar
8. Birch, D. Rolls-Royce and the Mustang, Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust Historical Series No 9, Derby, England, 1987.Google Scholar
9. Atwood, J.L. Private Communication, October 1994.Google Scholar
10. Anon, , Estimation of the Increase in Performance Obtainable By Fitting a Continuously Variable Radiator Flap, Rolls-Royce Experi mental Department Report, 10 August 1942.Google Scholar
11. Horkey, E. Private Communication, November 1994.Google Scholar
12. Price, A. Focke-Wulf’ s “Dienstpferd”, Air International, May 1992, 42, (5).Google Scholar
13. Hucho, W-H. (ed) Aerodynamics of Road Vehicles, Butterworfh-Heinemann, London, 1987.Google Scholar
14. Smith, J. The development of the Spitfire and Seafire, Aeronaut J, April 1947, 51, pp 339–383.Google Scholar
15. Meredith, F.W. Note on the Cooling of Aircraft Engines With Special Reference to Ethylene Glycol Radiators Enclosed in Ducts, ARC R&M 1683, August 1935.Google Scholar
16. Hartshorn, A.S. and Nicholson, M.A. The Aerodynamics of the Cooling of Aircraft Reciprocating Engines, ARC R&M 2498, May 1947.Google Scholar
17. Morgan, M.B. and Smelt, R. Aerodynamic features of German aircraft, Aeronaut J, August 1944, 48, pp 271–331.Google Scholar
18. Matthews, H.F. Elimination of rumble from the cooling ducts of a single-engine pursuit airplane, NACA WR A-70, August 1943.Google Scholar
19. Zalovcik, J.A. A Profile-Drag Investigation in Flight of an Experimental Fighter-Type Airplane — The North American XP-51, NACA Report, November 1942.Google Scholar
20. Bussmann, K. Messungen am Laminarprofil P-51 Mustang, Aerodynamisches Institut der Technischen Hochschule Braunschweig, Bericht 43/4, January 1943.Google Scholar
21. Brown, E.M. Viewed from the cockpit; Tank's “Second Iron”, Air International, February 1976, 10, (2).Google Scholar
22. Gross, P. Die Entwicklung der Tragwerkkonstruktion Fwl90, Bericht 176 der Lillenthal-Gesellschaft, 2 Teil, January 1944.Google Scholar
23. Bentley, A.L. Focke Wulf fighter, Scale Models, July 1978.Google Scholar