I don’t follow.

Yes, I noted the apparent non-sequitur too! (Ollie posted while I was posting this – I think that’s a fair comment, and I wonder whether a belief that others may have gone supersonic in other aircraft misled the US when you look at aircraft like the one I cite below)

Personally, and I am not an aerodynamicist so I stand to be corrected by one, it was my understanding that with the sort of power available from jet engines at the time that anything that was going to be practical at supersonic speeds needed to be “area-ruled”. As far as I recall the practicalities of this meant that supersonic aircraft would need a “coke-bottle” shaped fuselage with a distinct waist, as in the F-102 and F-106. The Me262 has almost the opposite of this, with a spindle-shaped fuselage. I’m not sure how the DH108 fits into this, but I suspect that the survival rate (3 built, 3 crashed fatally) might have a lot to do with their practicality as a supersonic aircraft – ie not very!

If you want an example of the “It looks supersonic, so it must be” folly, read up on the Douglas X-3 Stiletto. It looks as though it could outrace an SR-71. In fact, it couldn’t top Mach 1 without diving, partly due to lack of power and partly due to lack of appreciation of area-ruling.

Adrian

If you log in and go to “Members list” (third from left in the blue toolbar above this window – starts with “User CP” to the left), you will get a list of members. There’s an alphabet at the top of the screen – go to the top, select “T”, and you’ll get about 11 pages of people whose name begins with T. I think Tom is on about page 8 – if he isn’t, I’m sure you can work out which page it is!

Click on his name, you’ll see a little box come up with a tab marked “visitor messages”. Ignore that one, instead click the one marked “Contact info” and choose an option!

I’ve only ever dealt with Tom by private message (PM), but he’s a good bloke and I’m sure if you post him one of your (absolutely stunning!) images he’ll do what he can to help you.

Good luck – and let us see when you are finished!

Adrian

Third aircraft back is I think RS-T of ‘Bob’ Stanford-Tuck.

I realise that to a certain extent it’s your job/life’s work, and I’m being spectacularly rude asking this, but… is there anything you don’t know about Spitfires? :confused:

Adrian
(who would give his eye teeth just to know what Mark 12 has forgotten)

Phew! That’s especially welcome as every time I’ve passed Duxford of late it’s been raining, and she’s sat forlornly in the wet.

It will be grand to see her in the air again. Come on Elly, get the wind under her wings!

Adrian

Hmm. Vee-twin, girder forks… *hums* slap-and-tickle, a Vincent motor-sickle, reasons to be cheerful, part 3…

Definitely someone with too much time on their hands and no Vincent handy!

Adrian