ORIGINAL: cappio777
Thats all true, but the heading of this forum is aerodynamics. You can do a lot with horsepower but it gives you a limiting airspeed. Now, if you clean up the airflow around the airplane you can extract another 5-15% extra speed from it. Two birds can attain the same airspeed even if one uses a smaller engine, all you have to do is clean as much of the fuse profile as you can. If all you care is to go fast for a short distance then strap a rocket engine and let it rip. If not why do non-quickie pylon racers are so streamlined?
cappio777,
Without question! I agree completely. That's why racers are always "honing the edge" so to speak. I'm just saying that adding HP is the easiest thing to do and will give the biggest advantage. You can add horsepower and you can pay attention to the aerodynamics of the plane. To do one without the other is self defeating.