Quote:
Originally Posted by Soviet Ace
Where are you getting this 1,100 and 1,200 hp from? All I've found, in all my sources is 940-50hp for all three of them (Buffalos). There is no Cyclone, that powered a Brewster Buffalo in WW2 on the Finnish side; that pumped out 1,1-1,200hp. They were all either R-1820-34 which pumped out either 940-50hp, just like the I-15bis, I-153, and I-16 M62-63 Engines.
|
From the dedicated website "Annals Of The Brewster Buffalo", which has everything from the RAF evaluation tests in July 1940 to pilot's combat reports through to statistics. Lists of Commonwealth Buffalo aces are also given.
The Buffalo was the most successful fighter of WW2 with a 40:1 kill to loss ratio. The Fins managed a 38:1 kill to loss ratio and the Commonwealth pilots still managed a 2:1 kill to loss ratio.
Against the A6M Zero it enjoyed a 1.39:1 kill to loss ratio.
The Fins manufactured their own engine parts and other spares for the Buffalo and also fitted bigger cylinder bores in line with Wright's own improvements.
Note that the Humu (Reckless) flew with a 950 HP engine taken from an I-153and was found to be underpowered compared to the 1,100 HP Cyclone.
The P-36 A-3 had a 950 HP engine, whilst the ex-French Airforce "Cauldron" P-36 A-4 aircraft, bought from the Nazi's, were powered by 1,100 HP engines.
One unusual feature of a Buffalo, which is never found on any other fighter, is a seperate cargo hold and seperate passenger space under the pilot.
The maximum range of a Buffalo is 1,065 miles without drop tanks or 10.5 hours in the air.