2 pics worth looking at

[tenmmike]

anybody got info on these??http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/p51-22.jpghttp://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/p51-21.jpg

[GregP]

I read about these tests in the past, but can't remember where. After WWII, the top photo was an attempt to see if the pulsejet from the Nazi V-1 could be used to assist the Mustang, and by extension ... other piston engined fighters, in achieving a higher top speed for an intercept. I can't recall the results, but the V-1 wasn't much faster than the P-51 to start with, so I doubt the ability of the pulsejet to help.

The second photo could be one of two experiments. One was ramjets on the wing tip for the same reaosn as above and the other was a pod of unguided rockets use for attack. If I am not mistaken, the rocket pod was done by Cavalier who later fitted the Mustang with a turboprop engine as well.

I can't recall any specifics about the Ramjet experiment ... it didn't peak my interest at the time and obviously didn't get any great development effort either or we'd know more about it.

[Romantic Technofreak]

I would never recommend to use the V1 pulsejet on a manned airplane. The intermittating service makes every pilot crazy after only short time. This is why the manned Fieseler Fi 103 and the Messerschmitt Me 328 (both intended as suicide attackers) failed.
I am glad that by this another "die-hard" hero story never came up.