Quote:
Originally Posted by some_other_dave
My grandpa once told me that a properly-designed full engine cowling on a radial-engined airplane actually pulled the airplane forward a bit. Sounds like the same sort of idea.
(Boy do I miss him!)
-soD
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I believe this is because of the heat from the engine is put into the flow as it goes through the engine bay. Similar to what was done with the P51 radiator.
The modern aircraft ideas are also using an engine to feed an energized flow through a gap between the main body and the tail cone.