DIY History | Transcribe | Nile Kinnick Collection | Nile Kinnick correspondence, September-November 1942

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Nile Kinnick correspondence, September-November 1942

1942-11-28: Page 04

Briefly here is some specific data on the F4F-4. It has a 1200 hp Pratt & Whitney air cooled motor and will turn up 2700 rpm in low pitch. Just what its top speed is I'm not sure. Haven't  had a chance to make a reliable test. Like all other planes, however, it is not as fast as advertised. Coming back from St. Augustine the other day in a relatively new plane I got 190 knots with 29" of manifold pressure & 2200 rpm. At sea level you can get 47 " of mercury, but of course the engine couldn't take that for very long. With the use of high blower (supercharger) you are supposed to get relatively the same performance at 19000' that you do at 2500'. It mounts  six 50 calibre machine guns, 3 in each wing, and can carry between 200 & 250 rounds for each gun. It stalls at about 75 knots and generally speaking is very stable. These facts are not unknown secrets, but I would prefer, nonetheless, that you don't pass them around too much. 
The weather here is quite pleasant. During the day we go around in our shirtsleeves or wear only a light jacket. When you first go to bed at night it is warm, but by morning it is apt to be down around

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Briefly here is some specific data on the F4F-4. It has a 1200 hp Pratt & Whitney air cooled motor and will turn up 2700 rpm in low pitch. Just what its top speed is I'm not sure. Haven't had a chance to make a reliable test. Like all other planes, however, it is not as fast as advertised. Coming back from St. Augustine the other day in a relatively new plane I got 190 knots with 29" of manifold pressure & 2200 rpm. At sea level you can get 47 " of mercury, but of course the engine couldn't take that for very long. With the use of high blower (supercharger) you are supposed to get relatively the same performance at 19000' that you do at 2500'. It mounts six 50 calibre machine guns, 3 in each wing, and can carry between 200 & 250 rounds for each gun. It stalls at about 75 knots and generally speaking is very stable. These facts are not unknown secrets, but I would prefer, nonetheless, that you don't pass them around too much. The weather here is quite pleasant. During the day we go around in our shirtsleeves or wear only a light jacket. When you first go to bed at night it is warm, but by morning it is apt to be down around