Dive limits

[tomo pauk]

Was thinking of making a dedicated thread for aircraft dive limits. Hopefully, we should have plenty of prime source data for many of the A/C of ww2. To start the ball rolling, here is data for the P-38, along with some other related stuff:

 

[Juha]

Pilot's notes usually has the max permissive dive speeds (IAS) and here is an old thread:
http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/flight-test-data/ww2-fighter-critical-mach-speed-802.html

 

[tomo pauk]

Thanks. The idea is to post the excerpts from manuals and tests here.

 

[Aozora]

Thanks. The idea is to post the excerpts from manuals and tests here.

P-51B/C/D Technical Orders:

P-51D/K Flight Restrictions:

 

[Aozora]

From Westland Wyvern S4 Pilot's Notes -
Weapons Release Limitations:

Other Flight Limits:

 

[tomo pauk]

Thanks

P-47N dive limits. That variant was without dive flaps, and still dived great, despite the 'old' S3 profile shared with granpa P-47B. And P-43??

 

[tomo pauk]

Dive limits for P-47D-25 through -35:

 

[FLYBOYJ]

Great stuff guys!!! I love to see actual FM data as opposed to what is written in "a book" by an author who probably never flew a plane or read a flight manual. You're gonna find the ability to bust many a myths by researching actual data.

 

[tomo pauk]

Thanks.
Some other A/C: P-39L/M/Q, P-40 (later models) and Hurricane II/IV. Unfortunately, I don't have neatly listed altitude limits:

 

[tomo pauk]

double post

 

[tomo pauk]

Dive limits for the P-61. Unfortunately, the person that draw the diagram mixed up the 10000 and 20000 ft lines.

 

[OldSkeptic]

Dive limits for the P-61. Unfortunately, the person that draw the diagram mixed up the 10000 and 20000 ft lines.

View attachment 257531

Love the P-61 one... its maximum dive speed was less than a Mossy XXX maximum level speed....

 

[FLYBOYJ]

Love the P-61 one... its maximum dive speed was less than a Mossy XXX maximum level speed....

Remember that's Indicated Air Speed - you'd have to calculate True Air Speed, even then it still might be slower.

 

[tomo pauk]

This is from the picture from pots #1 of this thread:

So the P-61 can dive at 10000 ft and under at 415 + 5x10 = 415 + 50 = 465 mph

Keen eye might also see that the P-38 is at red line at 30000 ft when flying at 440 mph, and while at ~35000 ft when flying at 430 mph; seems like that expecting from the (X)P-38K to be topping 450 mph above 30000 ft might be a tad too much?

 

[tomo pauk]

Dive tests found at Williams' site:
Fw-190 (early model)
Bf-109 (9.3 MB pdf, in German, but numbers should be self-explaining)

('Vw' = Wirkliche Geschwindlikheit = TAS; 'Va' should be IAS ; 'Machzahl = Mach number)

Many thanks, Mike al

added: dive limits for the Bf-109F - table - should have bearing on problems with wings of the Bf-109F

 

[tomo pauk]

Dive limits for the Spitfire XIV/XIX:

 

[tomo pauk]

Dive limits for the Spitfire XIV/XIX:

View attachment 258182

 

[tomo pauk]

Air speed limits for the Sea Fury 10 and 11 - same limit would be for dive speeds?

 

[tomo pauk]

Dive limits for the Spitfire IX and XVI:

Speed limits for the Mosquito FB.VI:

 

[FLYBOYJ]

8)