Recent content by Engineman

Another observation about #2965. The upper prop blade was presumably undamaged and might have been removed for Axis or Allied use. The individual blades are removed by unbolting and taking-off a locking plate, then undoing the large 6-odd inch ring nut that secures the whole blade and blade...

#2965. Good Desert shots. Both top and bottom pics show the common petrol scavenging method of hacking a hole in the fuselage just to the rear of the cockpit to get at the fuel tank. If they had asked I could tell them how to get the fuel easy! Top shot 3+ is a Bf 109 G-2. Lower shot 2+ is a...

When I parked-up overnight on the Canaveral skid-strip, security included "George" who sat in the drainage creek. Eng

Thanks Eagledad. The flight performance data here is thin but, I think it has some value. Looking at the 73,000lb Climb data, it shows a +620ft/min climb performance upto 8,000' altitude. Very roughly, that corresponds to a straight mathematical 1350 horsepower of work and also equates roughly...

I have no specific info but, as per Blancolirio report and this youtube entry, "Uncovering the 22 myths of the Douglas DC-4 fuel aircraft still flying Alaska" they seem to have fixed tanks for the cargo fuel in the cabin. Eng

Just looking at the detail of "4500" US Gallons of "fuel" (3200 heating oil, 1400 Avgas) looks to pretty much max-out the DC4 Max T/O weight 73,500lb. Does anyone have the DC4 T/O Performance tables? Anyone comment on DC4 EFATO at max T/O? Thanks Eng

Hi, I have only tried to pass-on info and not speculate, but I do think there was some sort of failure/fire going on for some period before the dramatic explosion and rapid LOC. However, the "explosion" does seem somewhat large and more than most engine failures. I guess that a better...

A little more info from more reporting. It looks like the aircraft was airborne, departing Fairbanks, they were handed over as normal to radar and cleared to proceed on course, all seems normal. Then approx 1min after T/O they report they will have to return and commence a LH turn back to the...

Sad to see. Aircraft looks to be flying level OK about 500', but then there is a strong explosion, looks to be on the left wing behind the No.2 engine. Aircraft immediately enters a strong left roll with nose dropping and impacts within about 6sec with 90+* bank and maybe 75* dive. After...

Looks to be a Bf 109 F-2. Looking at the condition and Weather, maybe as early as early Summer 1941. Possibly the distinctive cammo is seen on others? Eng

Hi, Post #2934, I think the top photo of 10+ is an early Bf 109 G-6. I can see the smooth split-rim wheel, the MG 131 bulges on the top cowls with the cut-outs for the longer muzzles and no ceramic insulator on the rear spine. A good shot though, with the left wing root fillet removed for some...

Great shots! Mossie gets my fav vote. Eng

Yes, I took that pic to be the 1820 but it should be the P&W R-1830. So that takes us back to the parent aircraft, which is more likely a B-24 or Catalina or some DC3/C47 and loads of others! The aircraft type is impossible to be precise, but it is definitely that part from that type of...

Yes, That looks to be the distributor/points cam from an American Bosch SB9RU Magneto that could be from a Pratt and Whitney R-1830 on a B-24. Below should be a pic from the History of Delco-Remy website with this part within a mag on a cutaway 1830.

Interesting shot of a Bf 109 D bad landing. Even though the prop blade is bent back and partly in the way, you can see this aircraft has the later style exhaust stubs. These seem to be in a shrouded trough similar to the later 109E. The earlier style(s) seem to have been short stubs of...