Piston engine propeller driven speed record

[J.O.]

That's pretty quick.

http://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/Absolute-World-Speed-Record-for-Piston-Engine-Propeller-Driven-Airplane-Set-by-Steve-Hinton-Jr-1002349195

[Maverick]

I've been following this fairly closely being a bit of a WW2 nerd. I like that it's a P-51 that still looks like a P-51.

Congrats to Steve Hinton Jr. 

Takes cajones to push a 70 year old airplane like that. 

[Kasey]

Was there a RR Merlin under the hood? Can't find it in the article....

 

[J.O.]

A slightly beefed up version, but yes it's a Merlin. 

[Kasey]

Thanks J.O.

Can you steer me to a site to confirm that ( not that I don't trust your post, just need some hard and fast! ;-)

(doing some research)

[vanishing point]

"Voodoo" has an interesting past as well as a Canadian connection:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voodoo_(aircraft)

From this article: http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?do=main.textpost&id=b6145504-969f-4562-9033-31cb5cdef5e9

Voodoo runs two Merlin engines; one race, one stock:  " They changed the Merlin racing engine to a stock one at the aircraft's home base in Yolo County, CA. Steve then returned to Reno to make the same changes to another race plane, Strega."

 

[Kasey]

Thanks VP! Good stuff.....

[vanishing point]

Happy to help, Kasey. 

[J.O.]

After thinking about it for a bit, I can't envision any other engine type that would both fit in a P51 and provide that kind of horsepower.

[Kasey]

There were two engine types on the early version, not until the RR was strapped on did this become the rocket it is today (and during WW11).

"The Mustang was originally designed to use the Allison V-1710 engine, which, in its earlier variants, had limited high-altitude performance. It was first flown operationally by the RAF as a tactical-reconnaissance aircraft and fighter-bomber (Mustang Mk I). The addition of the Rolls-Royce Merlin to the P-51B/C model transformed the Mustang's performance at altitudes above 15,000 ft, allowing the aircraft to compete with the Luftwaffe's fighters.^{[7][nb 1]} The definitive version, the P-51D, was powered by the Packard V-1650-7, a license-built version of the Rolls-Royce Merlin 66 two-stage two-speed supercharged engine,"

Thanks for all the input ;-)

[J.O.]

Ah yes, I forgot about the Allison. Another great sounding engine, especially with two of them in the P38.

[canadairguy]

The article claims the speed was recorded over 4 laps of a 3 km course.  I'm assuming a closed course.  If the course was circular it would have a radius of about 500 m, pretty difficult to achieve at >500 mph.  I wonder how long the course really was.