Aviation, Imagination of the Future from the Past

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Another concept from Schuyler Kleinhaus

Flying Boat Handout
 

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The illustration's comment on low drag type engine cowls brings to mind that I'm currently reading a book about NASA's 1950s/1960s lifting bodies program & a couple other aviation history things here and there; and somewhere in that mix, at least one publication covers a little bit of the history of NACA-NASA, Dryden, Ames, Langley, and as part of that mentions NACA testing of engine cowls for radial engines in 1920s, 1930s, and how adding engine cowls to several different airplanes raised their top speed by 20mph or more.
 
From,Western_Aviation_Missiles_and_Space 1943,

here is a McDonnell advertisement.
 

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The illustration's comment on low drag type engine cowls brings to mind that I'm currently reading a book about NASA's 1950s/1960s lifting bodies program & a couple other aviation history things here and there; and somewhere in that mix, at least one publication covers a little bit of the history of NACA-NASA, Dryden, Ames, Langley, and as part of that mentions NACA testing of engine cowls for radial engines in 1920s, 1930s, and how adding engine cowls to several different airplanes raised their top speed by 20mph or more.
One of the first ring cowlings was the Townend Ring cowling invented by British Engineer Hubert Townend in 1929. Townend Rings’ primary function was improving cooling of cylinder heads on radial engines. Drag reduction was a secondary goal.
Long-chord NACA cowlings were successful at drag reduction.
 
One of the first ring cowlings was the Townend Ring cowling invented by British Engineer Hubert Townend in 1929. Townend Rings’ primary function was improving cooling of cylinder heads on radial engines. Drag reduction was a secondary goal.
Long-chord NACA cowlings were successful at drag reduction.
Actually, Boulton Paul's designer John D. North began work on his 'Anti-Turbulence Cowling' in 1918 for the Bentley BR.2 engine long before Townend began his work in 1928. North patented his ideas in May 1929 and indeed one of the Boulton Paul P.31A Bittern prototypes were fitted with rings designed by North installed in 1927. Not until Townend's National Physical Laboratory reports and his patents came out did the Air Ministry order trial cowlings for Boulton Paul Sidestrand J9186 in 1931.
Both men were working on very similar lines, indeed Townend's aerofoil shaped ring was based on North's patent for an improved design which was submitted to the Air Ministry in 1929 but North's patent not published until 1930.
Boulton Paul bought Townend's patents in 1930 and marketed them as 'Boulton Paul Townend Rings' - though they never did produce Townend-designed cowlings and to the world it simply became known as the Townend Ring.
 
The Rocket Fighter ?,

Air Trails magazine cover - April 1948
That's a Northrop YB-49 flying wing bomber. I'm not sure why rocket-like flames are spewing out behind its jet engines. The escort fighters are purely Tinsley's imagination. Their fuselages resemble that of the Bell XS-1 that broke the sound barrier the previous October. The wings and tail are swept back, unlike the XS-1. On the other hand, Tinsley's fighters seem to have rocket motors like the XS-1, but are shut off, a jet engine being in use. Yet I don't notice any air intake for a jet engine. Oh well...

 

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