Scotty,
 
I think that we do not disagree and I do not demean the aircraft by
referring to it as purpose built.  It was designed to carry one highly
trained and motivated individual very far and very fast in the
horizontal, climb and dive directions.  That was a very good thing.  And
yes it had some then new technology and the damn thing was put into
production in, what was it, less than a year from initial design?  A
heck of a feat.  My point was that it did that job well but we do not
find a fleet in current production.  Other modern technologies can fly
just just as much on less fuel and lower cost.  So the P-51 was a great
plane for tits purpose and time but is not to be emulated in today's
market.  (Unless one is prospecting for a trophy wife.)
 
Robert M. Simon
ES-P N301ES
 

________________________________

From: Lancair Mailing List [mailto:lml@lancaironline.net] On Behalf Of
Scotty G
Sent: Monday, April 02, 2007 10:59 AM
To: lml@lancaironline.net
Subject: [LML] Re: Thielert Diesel Centurion 4.0


Robert wrote:
 
The P-51 was purpose built.  I would suggest that the P-51 was more of
a unique aircraft than an example of good use of technology.  Otherwise
the industry would have continued with and improved upon that design.  

Robert M. Simon
ES-P N301ES

Oh boy.
 
Purpose built? Aren't all airplanes purpose-built? Escort. Fighter.
Attack. Dive Bomber. Recon... Man, I just have to disagree with you on
these counts... The P-51, for it's time, used two new pieces of
'technology' that made it head and shoulders above the rest. The airfoil
and the cooling system were marvels of aeronautical advnacement that
still stand today. The original design was improved upon - the British
Merlin and a two-stage supercharger really 'made' the airplane. Until
the demise of one current Merlin racing engine builder, we continued
that tradition with Dago Red. We still hold the course record at Reno
with a hot lap of 511 mph and a race average of 507. (Now I'll agree
THAT ONE is a one purpose airplane! (Okay, two... It burns money really
fast...)
 
Industry moved on to jets. The Mustang (among a few others) still
represents the epitome of piston-engine airplane design. Plus... chicks
dig them.
 
Scotty G
Warbird Digest Magazine
September Pops Air Racing