Sea Fury Vne

[Samuel]

Neat article on the Sea Fury WG655 which has one of the Sanders R-2800 conversions. In the article they mention the Vne is 382 knots. This seems low to me. Is this true? Seems a few of the Sea Fury's at Reno have gone faster than that. https://vintageaviationecho.com/sea-fury-t20-wg655/

According to the Mustang manual the Vne is 505 mph which converts to 438 knots.

[W J Pearce]

Pilot's Notes for Sea Fury 10 & 11 (May 1950) says max speed under 10,000 ft with no stores is 425 knots. From 10,000 to 15,000 ft is 385 knots.

[Samuel]

Thanks for that! Any idea what the Bearcat Vne is?

[toldjaso]

I believe chopping the wings off shorter allows you to cheat the published handbook speeds that are for stockers?
And the wing won't break at the same loads, either. Less span, able to take a little more "G".

Now, let's hear from the experts....

[W J Pearce]

I could not find a hard Vne number for the F8F. The attached chart is from the Pilot's Handbook (1 December 1949).

[Race5]

A couple of things to consider. The really fast unlimiteds are in the Experimental category. They do not have to abide by a factory set Vne like a certified aircraft. Since Jimmy's crash in 2011 RARA and the FAA require unlimiteds (and possibly other classes) to be dive tested. See the following info form the rule book:

All primary race pilots must submit a statement signed by the race pilot certifying that, at the anticipated density altitude of the race, the intended race aircraft has demonstrated a true airspeed of 105% of its projected qualifying speed and a turn capability of 150% of the approved race course maximum designed g-load of his/her race class prior to being eligible to race at NCAR.

[flyboycpa]

A couple of things to consider. The really fast unlimiteds are in the Experimental category. They do not have to abide by a factory set Vne like a certified aircraft. Since Jimmy's crash in 2011 RARA and the FAA require unlimiteds (and possibly other classes) to be dive tested. See the following info form the rule book:

All primary race pilots must submit a statement signed by the race pilot certifying that, at the anticipated density altitude of the race, the intended race aircraft has demonstrated a true airspeed of 105% of its projected qualifying speed and a turn capability of 150% of the approved race course maximum designed g-load of his/her race class prior to being eligible to race at NCAR.

It is indeed all classes. I had to do it for the Biplane Class, and sign off on it each year in the Race Application Packet.

Sam Swift