Pusher/puller Spitfire

[NARSES2]

Now, make it anyway! A high speed interceptor against Martians, or something    

Or Daleks in Space - well it happened in Dr Who with early Mk Spitfires, so why not 

[kerick]

Now, make it anyway! A high speed interceptor against Martians, or something    

Or Daleks in Space - well it happened in Dr Who with early Mk Spitfires, so why not 

Pieces of Spitfires welded together with a sonic screw driver?

[perttime]

Pieces of Spitfires welded together with a sonic screw driver?

And replace the guns with neutron disruptors...
(I don't know what they look like, so your hands are free 

[zenrat]

Would there be any advantage in having one engine but 2 props with the rear one driven by a long shaft off the back of the engine?  Same power output but divided between 2 props.  Sort of like 4 wheel drive but in the air.
That way you keep the shape of the Spit but have a prop at each end.

[kerick]

24 cylinder Merlin?
I may be wrong as I'm no aircraft engineer, but from what I've heard about push pull arraignments its not all that efficient. The front prop gets a full "bite" on the air but the second prop has to deal with air that has been accelerated towards it and is chock full of turbulence. They do, however, make cool looking whiffs.

[zenrat]

...from what I've heard about push pull arrangements its not all that efficient. The front prop gets a full "bite" on the air but the second prop has to deal with air that has been accelerated towards it and is chock full of turbulence...

So maybe some form of ducting would help straighten out the airflow?  Wouldn't look too good though.
I've always understood that pusher props were less efficient that pullers (tractors) as there was a degree of masking by the wings and engine cowlings.  Which has always made me wonder why the B-36 had the pusher installations.  Lower drag may have been a consideration I suppose.  Convair did study both pusher and tractor installations before they decided on what was built.

[wuzak]

...from what I've heard about push pull arrangements its not all that efficient. The front prop gets a full "bite" on the air but the second prop has to deal with air that has been accelerated towards it and is chock full of turbulence...

So maybe some form of ducting would help straighten out the airflow?  Wouldn't look too good though.
I've always understood that pusher props were less efficient that pullers (tractors) as there was a degree of masking by the wings and engine cowlings.  Which has always made me wonder why the B-36 had the pusher installations.  Lower drag may have been a consideration I suppose.  Convair did study both pusher and tractor installations before they decided on what was built.

Other way around. The Do 335 was faster on the rear engine than the front engine when running in single engine mode.

Pusher props also leave the wing free of prop wake, and they can be more efficient.

[Captain Canada]

Would a Merlin with extra cylinders be called a Morelin ?

[hamsandwich]

NO

[zenrat]

Would a Merlin with extra cylinders be called a Morelin ?

The Gandalf?

[eatthis]

Would a Merlin with extra cylinders be called a Morelin ?

[Runway ? ...]

The Gandalf?

Balrog?

Supermarine Balrog



I may have to build one.

[Librarian]

One curried prawn too many .

[Runway ? ...]

Mayhap.
Balrog: a beast shrouded in fire, darkness and shadow. Sounds like a name for a bomber escort twin Spit to me.
And another excuse for forties IFR.

"get under him, closer... closer...   BALROG BREAK BREAK BREAK!"

idk

[zenrat]

Bristol Balrog has a better ring to it.  Perhaps a successor to the Beaufighter with twin Gandalfs?

The bomber escort twin spit could be the Supermarine Smaug...