Charles Talleyrand wrote in
ups.com:

On Aug 5, 11:46 pm, Bertie the Bunyip wrote:

That's for the early airplanes regarding the Skymasters. the loss was
in
cooling drag, which Cessna improved. After that the SE ceiling cruise
and climb were virtually identical, but the reputation the rear
engine
had for better SE performance never went away..


How can that be? The engine cowling has the same openings wether the
engine is turning or not.

It doesn't
Same openings, different drag profile with the engines running.

In any case, it's a fact that the later Skymasters had virtually the
same performance with either engine out.


In other words, whatever the drag of the
front engine cowling, it should be the same whether the engine is
turning or not.


It isn't.


I'm assuming that the propeller does not effect airflow tooooo much
near the root, where it spins slowly and has a less aerodynamic shape
than near the tip, where most thrust is generated.

The drag is induced by the cooling itself.


Bertie.