Re: The Atomic Packard returns

Posted by Stephen Houseknecht On 2013/3/11 23:29:58

JW,

On the P-38, the teardrop looking weight on the elevator assembly was added to keep the elevator from "freezing" during dive. Probably more negligent by powers that be (the War Production Board) was the P-38 was never fitted with newer "paddle blade" propellers, which significantly improved rate of climb, ceiling, and air speed and would have cut down drastically 8AF bomber losses in 43. Also, Allison probably wouldn't supply the engines in large enough quantity to get the full number of a/c needed. Gen HH Arnold wanted to arrest and try Allison's management for impeding the war effort. I recall reading that in Coffey's Arnold bio. Much of GM's upper management was pro-Nazi.

Rolls had a number of restrictions and conditions they wanted put on Packard manufacturing the Merlin. This included RR's belief that women weren't suited to build the engine. I believe Packard revised/automated a number of assembly procedures and patented a number improvements on the engine as RR was hand building the engines. We also ended up paying royalties to Oerlikon after WWII for their 20 mm AA canons used by USN. The British Vickers Co. also paid royalties to Krupp after WW1 for their cannon fuses, which killed German soldiers. No escaping the banksters.