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Posted for "George Braly" <gwbraly@gami.com>:
Not stepping on my toes, at all.
Are you telling me that the baffles aren't high drag items?<<
Well... let me turn that around. Are you telling me that shoving all of the
cooling air through a very small plenum volume, which keeps the air moving at
very high velocity (ie, high drag) is the optimal way to reduce drag?
A properly designed "plenum" system would have the maximum internal volume
possible, within the available cowling space. But everybody (except Brent
Reagan) does it "wrong" and tries very hard to minimize the plenum volume.
If the proper way is to maximize the plenum volume - - which it is - - then
just using the outer cowl as the "plenum" is the way to maximize the plenum
volume. You can then use the same "small" x-sectional sized air inlets, as
with the "small plenum" and get better results.
Then it just becomes an issue of some good engineering on how to do that with
minimal leaks of air and good engine access.
But there is nothing inherently good about deliberately designing midget
sized plenums, and a lot that is "not good".
And the "success" you speak of as supporting evidence, does not include an
apples to apples comparison on this issue.
The fact that somebody has been successful using a less than appropriate
approach to one small aspect of the speed maximization problem - - an approach
which is universally copied because of the person's reputation - - does not
make it the optimal approach.
It just makes it famous, and subject to nearly universal imitation, for the
wrong reasons.
Regards,
PS. In the summer of 1967, or 68, or 69, I forget which, I watched Daryl
get the Bearcat ready for the record speed run, at Van Nuys. It was awesome
to watch the run-ups on the big engine after sunset!!!
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