Recent content by SwampTiger

The economic lure of multipurpose aircraft is rather strong in the Thirties. I wonder if a slight change in the retention of Great War personalities in both the RAF and FAA may have provided greater impetus for better single purpose aircraft, capable of additional roles. The rise of ground...

So how did the later twin row Alfa 135 and Nakajima four valve geometry compare? Did they follow the Bristol pattern of intakes inclined to open towards one another rather than parallel to each other? From a modern design perspective, this appears a poor design. Does anyone have access to...

Thanks. That explains somewhat. It would explain the basic single row radial licenses. Something like the Alfa Romeo 135 would not be bound by such legalities. Same with the Japanese derivatives. The original license would cover the licensed copies, but not engines derived from the core...

Inclined valves work when intake inclines towards exhaust. AIUI, in the Bristol engines, the intakes inclined/moved towards one another, not parallel. Same but less limiting for the exhausts. For the A-S engines, I got the info off Wiki. My bad. Still, why didn't Bristol, or a licensee, change...

I totally agree. The Italian economy and people suffered disproportionately from the losses of the Great War, plus the failings of the Fascist Corporatist economy undermined economic development. A lack of rational planning, coupled with the need to placate all members of the industrial elites...

There were several families of radials with four valve heads, Cosmos/Bristol and Armstrong Siddeley. What were the differences? The Bristol valves appear to have the intake valves inclined to open into(V) one another as do the exhausts. This would limit either the valve lift, timing or both. How...

As the OP raised the issue of effectiveness versus JAPANESE aircraft, I must go with the 8-12 .303 armament through 1942, and possibly 1st half of 1943. The lack of SSFT and armor left these opponents vulnerable to even tumbling solid projectiles. The discussion of the cannon armament is...

Compare the HS 129 with the Potez 630 and Breguet 693. These were also switched to the GR 14M. The three aircraft have similar maximum weights. The HS 129 has a smaller wing and armored cockpit. The FW 187, Whirlwind and Fokker G.1 were also similar in size and power. All were attempting to fit...

Sorry to rain on your parade. I doubt Churchill, Parliament and the Admiralty will see the rational of this argument. You are sending three of the RN's most valuable ships to assist the USN rather than protect British interests. The mission of Force Z was dissuade Japanese threats to Malaya. The...

As noted by Tyrodtom, you first need control of the air for such a plane to survive. Any colonial war will do for that requirement. I can imagine an early twin engine bomber/transport with half a dozen HMG's will make any force of colonial rebels/freedom fighters run for the hills. With a peer...