Bald Eagle Aviation

[TAdan]

Congratulations Andrew!

Thanks for sharing the great pictures Rich.

[CAPFlyer]

Congrats Andrew.

Rich, you must be slacking, I don't see enough cowlings on the floor... Great pics as always. Good to see more people getting in the air.

[51fixer]

Congrats Andrew.

Rich, you must be slacking, I don't see enough cowlings on the floor... Great pics as always. Good to see more people getting in the air.

If you only know the whole story

[amckenna03]

Thank you everyone for the great notes.

Thanks to Rich and especially Jimmy for an incredible opportunity. Also, to Kathleen who's support has been unmatched. Were it not for the countless hours of other people's kindness- and hard-work a lifetime achievement would never have been realized.

Very fortunate to have a great crew of friends including Dan Calderale and Dan Dameo make this weekend pretty amazing. Hope to someday pay the same dedication forward to others; and if lucky enough get to be a "keeper of the keys" hopefully, someday soon.

Andrew

[Django]

Congrats Andrew. That's awesome!

[51fixer]

Andrew dropped in today for his 2nd and 3rd flights in the P-51.
1st T-O today-










He had company-

[51fixer]

Togetherness-


Break to land-







A day's flying done.

[Django]

Looks like a fun way to spend a Thursday!

[P38RB]

Is that Jim flying the Spit?

[51fixer]

Is that Jim flying the Spit?

Yup.

[Jim Beasley]

Andrew is really doing well in the Mustang. And Rich has the Spitfire just right. Happy 4th all. Jim

Is that Jim flying the Spit?

Yup.

[pjpahs]

I had seen the "Griffon" Spit at Reading in 2011 and was impressed at the sound of it's engine. I know it has more power than a standard Mustang. My question is, in a flat out straight line race which would cross the finish line first?

[51fixer]

I had seen the "Griffon" Spit at Reading in 2011 and was impressed at the sound of it's engine. I know it has more power than a standard Mustang. My question is, in a flat out straight line race which would cross the finish line first?

Its all about horsepower and how far you are willing to push the throttle.
Somewhere back in the thread I linked some WWII comparisons of the P-51 and the mk XIV along with the Tempest.

Jim can correct but the Spit out climbs and accelerates over the P-51.
The 51 should due a bit better at the faster speeds.

I wouldn't want to duel from a standing start. P-51 just looks slow to climb out compared to the Spit. But you can run a little more power on the runway during TO with the P-51 but the Spit still out climbs it.

Just my observations from the ground.

[RHenry]

What really hampers the spit as far as top-end speed are those two big boxes hanging out in the wind...

[51fixer]

What really hampers the spit as far as top-end speed are those two big boxes hanging out in the wind...

Wing airfoil for starters, Laminar vs more traditional 1930s airfoil.
P-51 was designed 3-4 yrs after the Spit and was one of the 1st to use the laminar flow airfoil.
The radiators don't help, the P-51 system is a bit more aerodynamic.
Again, the Spit out climbs and is more nimble, particularly the Merlin powered ones.
Arguably both are great at being a flying machine.