Why Was The Fw-190A So Fast?

How did the Fw-190 manage so much speed with a blunt nosed airframe and an aircooled radial engine? This is episode three in a series, I'll get into the power and aerodynamics of this amazing plane.

This is part 3 in my Fw 190 series. I didn't put that in the title because youtube hates series and doesn't seem to recommend anything much past an episode 1.

I referenced David Lednicer, creator of "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage" and much more. Here is one of his videos on Korean war jets:

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Note: the pictures in this video don't exactly match what's I'm talking about, for example when talking about an A5, not every 190 picture is of an A5, it could be an A8 or whatever.

Some people are having a hard time understanding how ethylene glycol allows for a more compact cooling system, so I'll post a section from "Aircraft Propulsion" the source document from THE SMITHSONIAN. This is copyright free.

"The use of high-boiling liquids (mixtures of water and ethylene
glycol) for engines formerly water-cooled was an important forward step
in reducing the heat-transfer area, and thereby the drag, of radiators for
liquid-cooled engines. At the suggestion of S. D. Heron, a 1-cylinder engine
was tested at McCook Field in 1923 with a mixture of water and ethylene
glycol at a high coolant temperature, probably near 300° F During 1928-
1929 further tests were made at McCook Field with a Curtiss D-12 engine.
After considerable development work to avoid leaks and to overcome other
troubles encountered, the use of this method of cooling was adopted for
Curtiss liquid-cooled engines by 1932, and used soon afterward by Allison
and Rolls-Royce. This change, which allowed operation of the coolant
at 250° F, reduced the radiator area required by about 50 percent (fig.55).
This improvement, together with better radiator design and radiator
cowling (fig. 56) brought the drag of liquid-cooled engines well below that
of air-cooled radials of equal power. "

Now if all that doesn't do it for you, here are some fun facts to help out. The maximum allowable coolant temp in a Curtis P-40 is 125C/257F. Cooling system pressures in WW2 aircraft were between about 10psi and 30psi, with 30 being the highest I have ever seen in documentation. Even at 30PSI water will boil at 257F. As steam won't circulate properly and cool the engine, something with a higher boiling point must be used. That something was ethylene glycol. Thus by using ethylene glycol they were able to run at higher coolant temps for a given pressure and still cool the engine, thus were able to use smaller coolers.

I hope that helps.

[paulmichaelsmith]

Late reply, but thank you for this. This is off topic but hopefully close enough. My father was a B-24 pilot in the 15th and regularly encountered 109s and 190s. The 109s bounced the formations, groups, squadrons and forced them to break up. Dad said these were very pro pilots, knew just what they were doing. Even while being attacked, he had to admire their skill and bravery. That alone scared the bejesus out of everyone. Formations broken up, the 190s attacked often head on in lines up to ten or so. My father, a low key man, never one to be dramatic or given to hyperbole, said the 190s chewing thru planes all around him was the scariest part of the war for him. Sorry to prattle!

[GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

Wow, four hours to go until the video premiers and already one thumbs down! I seriously enjoy seeing that. It insures me that thumbs down are not really content based, and are often not legit criticisms.

[dcbadger]

That armored oil cooler arrangement that relies on the pressure differential of the boundary layer and the fan pressure is ridiculous and brilliant. We take if for granted what these engineers had to do without CAM/CAD, and that they made relatively safe high performance aircraft.

[sgdk]

Back in the 70s I attended a scale model aircraft event and sitting in the grass was a model FW-190 with a 72 inch wing span with incredible detail, including wear and weathering. It looked to have been in its share of battles. It was the most intimidating aircraft I have ever seen. An absolute work of art and I will never will forget it.

[sadwingsraging]

An engineering masterpiece designed around needs instead of wants is a testament to the skill of the engineers.

[Wallyworld]

Greg, I pretty sure you already know this but the community is infinitely grateful for your hard work on these beautiful war birds. I feel like you are doing important preservation of the details and explanation of these planes that the vast majority of the people wouldn’t have a clue about. You really go a step further than even the other best creators on the subject. Thanks again!

[neilpemberton]

When the P47 appears over Europe:
German pilots: "It's a flying tank!"
Kurt: "They stole my radial concept AND my name!"

[tomnekuda]

A lot of good thinking, experimentation, and engineering went into the air-cooled Fw-190 to bring its drag down to an acceptable level. It's quite amazing what the Germans were able to with the limitations they experienced with poor fuel, the need to import metal during wartime, and many other shortages that war brought to Germany. Good upload, Greg.

[nightsailor]

In a way I hate to say this but by all appearances the Engineers and Physicists had all the fun during the war. The explosion of ideas and development must have been intoxicating. Wonderful focused reporting. I look forward to more.

[bobdyer]

I remember reading Kurt Tank stating how his feet felt when flight testing the FW-190 for the first time "Like a blow torch set to my feet, beyond that great potential" . Soon after the coned cowling soon disappeared. Obviously this is my favorite Axis AC. Even the "D" and Ta versions. The only in-lines I can stomach. I don't comment much because your work is so in-depth and precise, It's just more of a pleasure to listen and learn. Thanks

[cuplove]

17:04 the full sentence says: below the full-pressure-altitude the performance(s) with the internal air inlets are better. Servus from a German friend aus München!

[MadCat]

Hey Greg, great video. Keep up the good work.
But as a German speaker, I have to chime on the translations of the oil cooler system. :D
Number 3 "Behaelterpanzer" means reservoirs armor and 4 "Ringoelbehälter" is the ring shaped oil reservoirs, literal ring oil reservoirs.
Regarding the external air scoops. There is a german publication with actual pictures of 190s with these scoops. One is an A4 flown by Wilhelm Galland, Commander of the II./JG26 in 1943 in France. According to this publication these where more or less field modifications for the high level interceptors as the RLM did not want to diversify the production more.

[vilhelmleons]

The 190 is what made me love warbirds its shape always reminded me of a great white (not the kinda thing you wanna find behind you suddenly as well)

[AlbaSkies]

Just want to take a minute to say that these videos are absolutely fascinating. I don't think there's any other YouTuber who can hold my attention, uninterrupted for over half an hour. Thanks for putting these together Greg!

[cuplove]

Watching this again after 3 years 😂 I just love your very VERY detailed reports on this (or all WW II planes)
Sidenote: I now drive a Mini F56 Cooper S (192hp turbocharged) a car that has a pseudo inlet in the front of the engine hood which does literally NOTHING, zero zip cause it’s blocked on the inside !! Pseudo-Ram-Air-drag-enhancer for „styling“ or „visual pleasure“, soooo not my thing…
One could add a hilariously expensive eventuri conversion that opens it up and directs the air into the inlet, but then I wonder how much Ram air actually would help a turbo (not a supercharger) even when I do 200-230 km/h on the German autobahn… if I created a cover that shuts that hole I would probably gain more…

[davidlednicer]

Thanks for the kind words. I really enjoyed your video and learned a good bit about the Fw 190.

[cindybetten]

Hi, I’m Cindy’s husband, Dwight. Totally fascinating. When things get “technical” I usually zone out but you are able to keep me riveted and absorbing your content. I really appreciate that, because it is a talent you have to communicate to a less then technical person like me. Good job Greg, IMO. Thanks again.

[antiussentiment]

Thank you so much for dropping in some metric conversions for those outside the USA. It really helps the rest of us get a perspective on things.

[garycasey]

You're a 757 captain? Excellent! My favorite airliner (as a passenger). Keep 'em flying!

[mauvegrail]

I learned to fly when I was stationed at AFCENT at Brunnsum in the Netherlands. My training was done on Cessna 150s and 172s. The flyng club at Beek Airport in Limburg in South Netherlands also had a Piper Cub. I looked over this plane and though that I wouldn't be caught dead in it. After I got my PPL I was asked by the club management if I could ferry a 150 to Beerse in Belgium for maintenance. They reassured me that there would be a flight back, and thatv I wouldn't have to walk the 60 -70 miles back. Thus reassured, I said OK. When I arrived at Beerse I found that the only plane that was returning to Beek was the Piper Cub. So, now I had a choice, climb into the Piper or walk home. Of course I flew home. It was a revelation for me. Flying in the Piper was what I had always imagined flying to be - seat of the pants, and just wonderful. I just wish that everyone who flies or who wants to fly could have that experience.
I think your videos are great. It's a pity that you can't do a video on the TSR2, given the dearth of information.