"Charles Talleyrand" wrote in message ...
"Eunometic" wrote in message om...
My feeling is that knowledge of materials for engine development was
what kept engine weight up and kept down the performance of most of
these aircraft. For instance an engine of the quality of the cyclone
seen on Charles Lindbergs Spirit of St Louise would have immeasurably
improved the performance of these aircraft especially if fitted with
NACA style cowlings. It most certainly was easily buidable by the
fabrication techniwques of the day. Prior to that engines were bulky
liquid cooled models or clumsy rotaries.

Suppose someone gives them a construction manual and a prototype
of a radial engine (probably without the turbocharger) for any common
radial engine of the 1940s. Can they get the correct alloys and build to
the needed tolerances?


I think they would have to make the aluminium alloys for the heads of
the cylinder from scratch but given the proportions they could make
them.

Might have to drop the compression ratio a bit to make use of the
lower grade gasolines and fit an oversized oil cooler and change the
oil more often.

The engine would still be superior to what they had.