Thanks again for comrehensive & aerodynamically educational replies - particularly the Keith Williams email graph!
I'm going to repost a couple of person-specific questions....
Donpizmeov - I concur about the FE buying the first round! Can you confirm that P3's 1.52Vs equates to Vmd? Do you recall the P3's 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.
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!
Any thoughts...?
Thanks!