Quote Originally Posted by Chopper View Post
Hey Joe....you wanna argue radials vs. inlines.....vs. Vs? The P51's aero played a bigger part than its engine. You couldn't stay on boost long, before you grenaded the thing anyway. I've read a few pieces about using the alcohol as a cooling charge, instead of fuel...lots of potential there. P.S. P38's were blown till their head bolts trembled......same deal....you got it for 32 seconds.
I love the round engines moreso than the inlines, although there's a little fondness for the inverted inlines like the Bf-109's Benz and the Fi-156's Argus (okay, it's an inverted V). Even the Fw-190's BMW radial had methanol injection for brief high altitude boosting, as you mentioned for only brief periods before the excessive compression made things looser than intended. Never was a fan of the Merlins, got two here that roar around the pattern fairly regular (P51 and a Spit) but they're nothing compared to the occasional B-25 or A-26. Took my Dad up in a B-17 couple years back and I wouldn't trade that for two rides in a Lancaster!

Well, we went from 265 to 305 on the dyno this afternoon on a supercharged RX-8. The throttlbody on back tends to get so cold it sweats on the outside.
Basic physics and mechanics at work there. You're pulling a lot of air through a venturi at high velocity, and if you know anything about basic aviation as well that's a recipe for icing which is why most recip aircraft have carb heat. Show me a hot carburetor or throttle body and I'll show you an engine that isn't running.