In article ,
(John Bailey) wrote:

On 2 Dec 2003 20:05:13 -0800, (Nev) wrote:

Some of the latest developments in propeller aircraft has fascinated
me. It also brought up an interesting hypothetical question; mostly
when reading about modern day warbird replicas.

1. Mission: Air superiority/dominance during WWII. Land based. It
should be able to clear the skies of any and all opposition at all
ranges and altitudes.

2. Must be a propeller aircraft.

Take one Kuznetsov NK-12MV turboprop giving 14,795 shp as used in the
Tupolev 95 Bear. With four engines the Bear gave: 575 mph (925 km/h)
Ceiling: 39,370 ft (12000 m) For a single engine fighter, it should be
able to cruise climbing straight up. An even more mind boggling
configuration would be two NK-12MV's in a twin boom design, a la the
P-38.

The real value of this design would be using the TU-95's transonic
counter-rotating propellers, which probably provide an upper limit on
speed.

A better config for a "modern" prop fighter could be a very beefy
version of the Japanese Shinden interceptor. Pusher prop, swept wing,
canard. A larger version of this, with a 20mm gatling in the belly and
a radar in the nose?

http://www.eagle.ca/~harry/aircraft/shinden/

Scale that sucker up by 50% or so in each direction, put a big engine
and some weapons in it, and there ya go...

If you're in love with a twin boom aircraft, dig out the plans for the
P-61 Black Widow. Lots of room for guns (it already has a radome and a
seat for an operator), extremely good handling for a plane that size,
and you could even keep the turret with a minigun or two.

Stick a couple of 20 mm gatlings in the belly, crank up some advanced
engines (modern turboprops would give it about *five* times as much
power), and have fun.

--
cirby at cfl.rr.com

Remember: Objects in rearview mirror may be hallucinations.
Slam on brakes accordingly.