Aviation MegaThread!!!!

[No False Enthusiasm]

Book description:

Aviation technology progressed at a blindingly fast pace during the first half of the 20th century. Aircraft were asked to fly higher, fly faster, carry heavier loads, take off and land on shorter runways, fly greater distances, and consume less fuel with each new generation, and with perfect dependability.

Pratt & Whitney's R-4360, or "Wasp Major" as it was known in the commercial marketplace, was a very large engine, displacing 4,360 cubic inches. Somewhat akin to the steam age when triple-expansion engines the size of cathedrals ruled the waves, the R-4360 at one time represented the largest and most sophisticated of its breed. Nothing else in the late-1940s marketplace could boast what the R-4360 did-3,000 to 4,000 hp. By the end of the piston-engine era Pratt & Whitney had placed into mass production the largest and most powerful engine ever built in quantity.

This book provides a detailed account of the inner workings of the R-4360. Also covered is the engine's development history, variations, and its military, commercial, and racing applications. 7x10, 208 pages, more than 600 b/w photos.

NFE

[jackd]

The Pratt might have had better serviceability than the later stage turbo-compound equipped Wright 3350 - but not than the earlier versions of the same engine which were a less stressed engine.

[mfp4073]

http://www.examiner.com/article/dool...fin-dies-at-96




Major Thomas C. Griffin, one of the last of the Doolittle Raiders, died yesterday at the age of 96.

With the passing of Griffin there are now only four men alive who flew on the historic raid against Japan in the early days of World War II.

The Doolittle Raid, named for its commander Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle, was an audacious plan to attack the Japanese home islands less than five months after the surprise Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

View slideshow: Maj. Thomas C. Griffin, Doolittle Raider
On April 18, 1942, 80 men in 16 B-25B Mitchell bombers took off from the deck of the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Hornet on a one-way mission to bomb Tokyo. Although the raid caused only slight damage the attack showed the Japanese that they were not impervious and raised American morale at a dark time in the war.

The mission was unique in that it was the only time twin-engined Air Force bombers launched from a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier. The B-25B was never designed to fly from a carrier deck and the pilots had to be specially trained to take off in the much shorter space. Because the planes could not land back on the carrier, once launched, the mission was one-way only. The B-25’s were specially modified with extra fuel tanks and were stripped of all unneeded weight to extend their maximum range well beyond that of the round-trip range of conventional carrier aircraft.


Doolittle Raider Maj. Thomas C Griffin talks to the media at the 70th Doolittle Raider reunion in 2012
Photo credit: Rob Reed
Of the 80 Raiders, seven died in the raid or in Japanese captivity afterwards. Four more were held prisoners by the Japanese until the end of the war.

Griffin bailed out over China with his crew and they eventually returned to Allied lines. He returned to combat in Europe where he was shot down on a mission and spent the rest of the war in German captivity.

The loss of Griffin comes just a couple months before what is scheduled to be the last Doolittle Raider reunion on April 18, 2013. The four surviving Raiders are Richard E. Cole, Robert L. Hite, Edward J. Saylor, and David J. Thatcher

[XR650L_Dave]

[mfp4073]

Originally Posted by XR650L_Dave

That pic is from a long time ago. I count 24 members still alive!

[ttpete]

Originally Posted by jackd

The Pratt might have had better serviceability than the later stage turbo-compound equipped Wright 3350 - but not than the earlier versions of the same engine which were a less stressed engine.

The early 3350s had horrendous problems - overheating and catching fire was the worst of them. Eddie Allen, Boeing's chief test pilot was killed when an engine caught fire and burned through the wing spar.

The 4360s were set up in a module that could be changed out relatively quickly, minimizing downtime. The removed assembly went to an overhaul facility where it was repaired as needed.

[mfp4073]

I dont know if it counts, but I just watched the international space station do a flyover! Very cool!

[jackd]

Originally Posted by ttpete

The early 3350s had horrendous problems - overheating and catching fire was the worst of them. Eddie Allen, Boeing's chief test pilot was killed when an engine caught fire and burned through the wing spar.

The 4360s were set up in a module that could be changed out relatively quickly, minimizing downtime. The removed assembly went to an overhaul facility where it was repaired as needed.

I change QEC's all the time - that doesn't make them run any better or last longer. With the Pratt you have 10 more jugs to worry about, along with the associated cam rings, exhaust system, ignition complexity and as I mentioned previously the problem of poor cooling for the aft rows. Poor cooling leads to a short service life. The Wright only had two rows - much simpler.

Do you think that 'Fifi' would still be flying if it was runnings Pratts? I've worked on Pratt radials and I do like them - I work on modern day Pratts now.

[dorkpunch]

How about a grossly in-proportionate 3D printed glider?



Having fun with my new toy. Not the glider.

[ttpete]

Originally Posted by jackd

I change QEC's all the time - that doesn't make them run any better or last longer. With the Pratt you have 10 more jugs to worry about, along with the associated cam rings, exhaust system, ignition complexity and as I mentioned previously the problem of poor cooling for the aft rows. Poor cooling leads to a short service life. The Wright only had two rows - much simpler.

Do you think that 'Fifi' would still be flying if it was runnings Pratts? I've worked on Pratt radials and I do like them - I work on modern day Pratts now.

The point was that there's less downtime. The overhaul shop takes over and the aircraft's operational while the engine is being serviced.

[jackd]

Most radials that I changed were QEC's - cooling baffles, ignition harnesses and assorted bits were all on and ready to go. Mags were installed and timed. You'd have to have a QEC for the Pratt or you would be there for weeks doing an engine change.

[kfsinc]

Originally Posted by dorkpunch

How about a grossly in-proportionate 3D printed glider?



Having fun with my new toy. Not the glider.

3D printer or dremel?

how does it fly?

[Tim McKittrick]

Originally Posted by jackd

Most radials that I changed were QEC's - cooling baffles, ignition harnesses and assorted bits were all on and ready to go. Mags were installed and timed. You'd have to have a QEC for the Pratt or you would be there for weeks doing an engine change.

I recall reading that one of the advantages of the BF109 was it's QEC design: the engine, guns, and prop were designed to be exchanged as a unit. Allegedly a pilot could return form a sortie and while taking a pee and eating a sandwich his ground crew could set him up with a fresh powerplant and armament. A good crew was supposedly able to do the entire swap and have the craft airworthy in something like 15 minutes.

Damaged or tired airframes were sent back to the factory for refurbishment, and many were pieced together from multiple ships. Because of this there is evidently no clear record of just how many were made, and how many were remade.

[Easyrider5258]

With the Imperial War Museum in London being refurbished exhibits based there have been moved to Duxford temporarily, thought it was worth a visit;

View directly in flickr's light-room here;

http://www.flickr.com/photos/6508137...ream/lightbox/

use the older tab to work back

1

Zero by BMrider2012, on Flickr

2

Ole Bill by BMrider2012, on Flickr

3

Mr Hess's aeroplane by BMrider2012, on Flickr

4

jet age by BMrider2012, on Flickr

5

J52 by BMrider2012, on Flickr

6

Fire and Ambulance brigade by BMrider2012, on Flickr

7

25 years apart by BMrider2012, on Flickr

8

3 spits by BMrider2012, on Flickr

9

Fairey Firefly by BMrider2012, on Flickr

10

Spitfire by BMrider2012, on Flickr

11

British Antarctic Survey Twin Otter at Duxford by BMrider2012, on Flickr

12

BAC Strikemaster by BMrider2012, on Flickr

13

Lightning XM135 by BMrider2012, on Flickr

14

Tornado GR1 ZA465 by BMrider2012, on Flickr

15

De Havilland Chipmunk WB-726 by BMrider2012, on Flickr

16

GX-JCB by BMrider2012, on Flickr

17

Avro Shackleton by BMrider2012, on Flickr

18

Apache2 by BMrider2012, on Flickr

19

Apache4 by BMrider2012, on Flickr

Thanks for looking :)

[dorkpunch]

Originally Posted by kfsinc

3D printer or dremel?

how does it fly?

3d printer... And it doesnt. . Still experimenting with the printer setup, but I think I can get a flying glider pretty easily.