Thanks for the interesting points so far...
Is it safe to say that once climbing at Vmd, a reduced climb rate would surely result with a decrease of airspeed and therefore increase in drag? I have observed people climbing on a hot day and continuing to ease the nose up (well below min drag speed)trying to get to height.
The other aspect of climb speeds I'm interested in is simply the idea of gaining more lift at increased speed - lift increasing with the square of the speed and all that.
A and C - I was interested in your line about 'fitting in with the piston aircaft of their day ' - this sounds familiar as one of the senior P3 (Aurora)pilots at Greenwood told me that the reason for the existing climb schedule was to 'maintain an average TAS in the climb' ! This didn't sound particularly scientific to me!
Donpizmeov - I concur about the FE buying the first round! Can you confirm that 1.52Vs equates to Vmd? Do you recall the 190 kts for 3 Eng at all weights? This 190 kts seems bizarre to me as often it puts the pilot well below the 1.52Vs. Again anectdotally (and in the simulator) I have found a better 3 engine climb above the 190kts recommended.