This is a comparison of the Fulmar II and F4F-4, under 10,000ft. Obviously above that altitude the Merlin 30 rapidly runs out of power, but since much of WW2 naval air combat took place under 10,000ft (which was the FAA's rational for low altitude rated engines) it is useful to compare these two aircraft under 10,000 ft. I think the comparison helps to place the Fulmar and Fulmar II's performance in perspective when we realize just how well the F4F-4 did given its rather marginal advantage over the Fulmar under 10,000ft.
Power:
normal: ~1100/1090hp to aprox 11000ft
WEP: 1360hp at 6000ft / 1200hp at 1800ft, 1135hp at 3500 ft, 1150 hp at 11,500ft
weight: 9672lb / 7975lb
wing area: 342sq ft / 260 sq ft
wing loading: 28.3lb / 30.7lb
Fuel: 190usgals / 144usgals
8 x .303, 1000rpg / 6 x .5", 240 rpg
climb:
Initial:
Normal:1538** / 1690 fpm
Combat: ???? / 1850 fpm
normal time to:
5000ft: 3.25min / 3.25min*
10000ft: 7.17min / 6.5min
15000ft: 12min / 10.6min*
20000ft: 20min / 14.7min
combat climb to:
5000ft: ???? / 2.9min
10000ft: ???? / 5.9min
15000ft: ???? / 9.1min*
20000ft: ???? / 12.7min
Power:
WEP: 1360hp at 6000ft / 1200hp at 1800ft
1 hr limit: ~1200/1090hp (aprox under 10000ft)
Normal Max speed
SL: ???? / 274
1750ft: 264 / 280mph*
5000ft: 265 / 283*
7250ft: 272 / 290*
9600ft 265 / 296*
Combat max speed:
SL: ???? / ????
1750ft: ???? / ????
5000ft: ???? / ????
9600ft: ???? / ????
* interpolated
** based upon time to 5000ft
data from WWII Aircraft Performance especially:
http://www.wwiiaircraftperformance.org/f4f/f4f-4-02135-performance.jpg
and various sources for the Fulmar, including wikipedia, Warpaint 41, and data from British Carrier Aviation. Data on the Fulmar/Fulmar II is often contradictory and I had to make some choices between the data sets, especially for max weight. Also it appears that the Fulmar II had a tropical filter in some models and this caused a reduction in max speed, which might account for the variation in Fulmar II performance stats.
Edit: the fuel consumption for the Merlin 30 goes from 105 igals/hr at 9.75lb boost/2850 rpm to 130 igal/hr at 12lb boost/3000rpm, so this suggests 1100hp and 1360 hp.
Power:
normal: ~1100/1090hp to aprox 11000ft
WEP: 1360hp at 6000ft / 1200hp at 1800ft, 1135hp at 3500 ft, 1150 hp at 11,500ft
weight: 9672lb / 7975lb
wing area: 342sq ft / 260 sq ft
wing loading: 28.3lb / 30.7lb
Fuel: 190usgals / 144usgals
8 x .303, 1000rpg / 6 x .5", 240 rpg
climb:
Initial:
Normal:1538** / 1690 fpm
Combat: ???? / 1850 fpm
normal time to:
5000ft: 3.25min / 3.25min*
10000ft: 7.17min / 6.5min
15000ft: 12min / 10.6min*
20000ft: 20min / 14.7min
combat climb to:
5000ft: ???? / 2.9min
10000ft: ???? / 5.9min
15000ft: ???? / 9.1min*
20000ft: ???? / 12.7min
Power:
WEP: 1360hp at 6000ft / 1200hp at 1800ft
1 hr limit: ~1200/1090hp (aprox under 10000ft)
Normal Max speed
SL: ???? / 274
1750ft: 264 / 280mph*
5000ft: 265 / 283*
7250ft: 272 / 290*
9600ft 265 / 296*
Combat max speed:
SL: ???? / ????
1750ft: ???? / ????
5000ft: ???? / ????
9600ft: ???? / ????
* interpolated
** based upon time to 5000ft
data from WWII Aircraft Performance especially:
http://www.wwiiaircraftperformance.org/f4f/f4f-4-02135-performance.jpg
and various sources for the Fulmar, including wikipedia, Warpaint 41, and data from British Carrier Aviation. Data on the Fulmar/Fulmar II is often contradictory and I had to make some choices between the data sets, especially for max weight. Also it appears that the Fulmar II had a tropical filter in some models and this caused a reduction in max speed, which might account for the variation in Fulmar II performance stats.
Edit: the fuel consumption for the Merlin 30 goes from 105 igals/hr at 9.75lb boost/2850 rpm to 130 igal/hr at 12lb boost/3000rpm, so this suggests 1100hp and 1360 hp.
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