I ran across a video yesterday, and thought it may be of interest to other Forum members. It may be a bit more technical than some gamers might want, but I found it fascinating.
This video attempts to explain why the FW-190, a radial engine fighter was able to compete with in-line engine fighters of the day. Contemporary design had departed from the blunt-nosed, non-aerodynamic form to more streamlined forms available with in-line engines. Kurt Tank found a way to make a radial engine design work.
I did note that Greg compared the FW-190A to the Spitfire Mk IX, which was actually an unfavourable comparison, as the FW-190 appeared against the Mk V. So, I would think that the numbers for the FW-190 would have been even more impressive, and quite a surprise for RAF pilots. Also, going by my limited understanding of the advantages/disadvantages of air vs water/glycol cooled engines, I think the FW-190 would have survived battle damage better than the Spitfire, even without the armoured oil cooler.
Youtube - Greg's Airplanes and Automobiles Channel: Why Was The Fw-190A So Fast?
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