Jim;
Practical considerations many times outweigh theoretical advantages of a
particular design.
I have a friend who flew P-51 Mustangs in Europe during WWII. Flying cross-
country before he was transferred overseas, he bailed out of a P-40 Warhawk
when it lost all its glycol coolant and the engine (V-12 Allison) seized.
Liquid- cooled engines were vulnerable in areas that air- cooled engines
were not-- Sometimes planes such as Hellcats, Corsairs, and Thunderbolts
returned from combat with air- cooled cylinders shot off but they could
still fly home.
Some pilots enjoyed having a big multi- row air- cooled radial engine up
front as a bullet shield as well as a powerplant!
Regards, Neil Tucson, AZ
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