WI B-29 in 1942?

Stuart · Post by **Stuart** » 2008-06-13 12:26pm

Dark Flame wrote: Then why can't they use that magnesium to replace some of the aluminum in the body of the airplane so they can use that aluminum in the engines?

That's more or less what Consolidated did with the B-36. The problem was that in a crash, the whole airframe went up and that made getting out an interesting experience.

Dark Flame · Post by **Dark Flame** » 2008-06-13 01:04pm

Stuart wrote: That's more or less what Consolidated did with the B-36. The problem was that in a crash, the whole airframe went up and that made getting out an interesting experience.

Oh. So basically if you're stuck with magnesium, there really is no good place for it to go.

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2008-06-14 11:24am

Master Arachnos wrote: Could'nt the B-29 already carry 1 grandslam or 2 tallboys (altho not in the bomb-bay itself i think), or am I getting my B-29 mixed up with my B-50..

The B-29 could do that, but the mod was not made until after the war was over. The B-50 was actually tested with no less then two Grand Slams under the wings, but in this configuration it could carry very little fuel.

and instead of those nasty unreliable US engines just take the sensible appraoch and license build Napier Sabres

The Sabre was not designed for high altitude operations, which is a lot of the reason why it makes so much power with so little weight. It had its own slew of serious problems for several years anyway, my favorite of which is the need to start the engine every two hours at night in the winter, or else the oil would clog the engines numerous very small oil lines and became impossible to clear because of wax formations. It outright ruined the engine!