From other thread:
Thanks for the effort to post the particularities.
Yet - the weight have had next to nothing to do with speed between sea level and critical altitude, unlike the drag. Drag is related to drag coefficient, and size of aircraft, especially the area of the wing. The Me 210 have had less powerplant-related drag, more exhaust thrust, much more engine power, yet it was still doing only 350 mph with DB 601F engines. Or, 330 mph, if we go by German wikipedia article.
So I'll reiterate that 360 mph speed figure for any historical F.9/37 is to be taken with a large grain of salt.
Now, a hypothetical variant with Merlins...
The 360 mph figure for the Gloster is suspicious IMO. The aircraft was the size of Me-210, with far less exhaust thrust and outfitted with radial engines (= more drag than half-decent V-12 installation)....
Err, no - Me-210 weighed in at (A-1) 17,857 lb, Span 53' 7.25", Length 40' 3", W/area 389.654 sq. ft.
Gloster F.9/37 Weights: empty 8,828 lb., loaded 11,615 lb., span 50', length 37', wing area 386 sq. ft.
So the only thing comparable is the wing area, the big difference is the weight (the A-2 version was another 7,500 lb. more).
As for the Gloster's speed - 360 mph was not an estimate - it happened first flew in April '39.
Thanks for the effort to post the particularities.
Yet - the weight have had next to nothing to do with speed between sea level and critical altitude, unlike the drag. Drag is related to drag coefficient, and size of aircraft, especially the area of the wing. The Me 210 have had less powerplant-related drag, more exhaust thrust, much more engine power, yet it was still doing only 350 mph with DB 601F engines. Or, 330 mph, if we go by German wikipedia article.
So I'll reiterate that 360 mph speed figure for any historical F.9/37 is to be taken with a large grain of salt.
Now, a hypothetical variant with Merlins...