Henshaw Challenge

Percival Mew Gull of 200 hp made a record that stood 70 years ( cruise speed 235 mph ). Now it is about to be broken;

http://www.henshaw-challenge.com/dnn/

Pilot name Chalkie with Osprey GP4 is nearly back in Cape Town.

More about Spitfire testpilot Alex Henshaw: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article1480049.ece?%20print=yes&randnum=1203509807953

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I figured a Max III if fitted with 50 hp engine could out run the Osprey GP4 in speed by 20 mph. Flying like Chalkie means at least 1300 n.M legs 4 each way.

I had figured Max III could fly 1800 n.M with 22 hp engine at 165 mph. With 160 liters (42 gallons and 113 kilos ) of fuel in wing tanks the trip could be made with 50 hp engine at 250 mph using 43 hp.

http://www.limflug.de/files/pdf/DS-L550E.pdf

This gives 20,6 kilos in an hour of fuel => 29 liters in an hour. Seems that L550E 2-stroke at that high rews is very very uneconomical. I have to recheck what I get when I put the top speed to 240 mph.


http://www.ospreyaircraft.com/gp4.htm

Chalkie has to have added extra fuel tanks since that has about 60 gallons tanks.

Right it says 420 liters capacity in Chalkie's GP4.