Recent content by Tartle

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    French fighter aircrft

    Interesting to note that before the fall of France their government had agreed in principle to build Merlins in France (maybe by Ford?) and a Dewoitine d.520 and Amiot 356 had flown with Merlin X. Anyone got a picture... there is a Dewoitine pic is in RRHT Historical Series No 2: 'Merlin in...
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    Spitfire + Sabre: any facts/opinons?

    Who said Sabre's bugs were sorted out by 1943. Devons in his book 'Planning in Practice' talks of the delicacy, in June 1944, of telling Napier of the forecast numbers of engines required to the end of '45 would likely drop.... however the MAP were reluctant to rock the boat as Napier Sabre was...
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    Inverted V engine vs. V engine

    Shortround6... you make some pertinent points... when the Napier Sabre powered Typhoon went into general service squadrons had nearly twice as many aircraft in order to overcome unserviceability issues. Even in 1944/5 Napier were making at least 50% more Sabres than required for new...
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    Most Beautiful Aircraft

    Pre world war II- DH 91 Albatross
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    WI The Rolls Royce Vulture is a success

    The problem with the Sabre was its unreliability that made the Vulture look incredibly good! Seriously, Rod Banks talks of the cost of the Sabre being 4 to 5 times the cost of a merlin per hp. (And Bristol Hercules being twice 'Merli' per hp). The Vulture was almost there, in terms of integrity...
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    Inverted V engine vs. V engine

    'The romance of engines' By Takashi Suzuki, Chapter 37 and 38 discusses the technology of the DB600 series especially the bearings and Takashi Suzuki advances some well thought out possibilities for the changes of technology in the bearings that may also have been informed by feedback from...
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    Inverted V engine vs. V engine

    Jerry Wells posted this on the Engine History discussion board early this year...I have copied it here as I believe it is the best summary of the DB situation (Note I say the DB situation as it is becoming clear that the design solutions for the /\ configuration determined the degree of...
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    Inverted V engine vs. V engine

    There was no lack of demand for the Merlin either. Devons book 'Planning in Practice' really makes the point at how hard it was, in fact, to plan production of engines and marks of engines which really drove aircraft schedules. The point I made before about three levels of flexibilty that...
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    Inverted V engine vs. V engine

    Returning to the topic of the original thread: Thread reply #79... the top right data points are interesting... the RM17SM version of the Merlin is shown on three data points. the 30psi boost point at 2200 bhp is an engine going through a 150 hout type test... so is a service rating; the two...
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    Inverted V engine vs. V engine

    The numbers I quoted are for the actual achieved overhaul hours on the Griffon. I note Wikipedia does not reference the 400 hrs statement.... doesn't mean it isn't true for a phase of life development....but no context. When the Shackletons got on station they then stooged around at low speed...
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    Inverted V engine vs. V engine

    The 'mass' production facilities were set up for Merlin production and so the changeover would have meant severe delays in supply to all the aircraft programmes reliant on Merlins. Griffons were to be made at Crewe which was a step up from 'craft' production at Derby. As was usual the initial...
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    Inverted V engine vs. V engine

    The Shackleton had the worst conditions for engine life, stooging around for 24 hours but needing to keep revs up to generate enough electrical power for the search systems, tea and dinner so it is rather good to find that the most interesting thing about the Griffon 58 is that it gave 2540bhp...
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    Inverted V engine vs. V engine

    ...and don't forget the trials and tribulations of the first production Merlins with their ramphead cylinder design that cracked very quickly; measures had to be taken that were a challenge to the production machine and the real answer did not appear until the two-piece head designed at Derby...
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    Allison V-1710 vs. H.S. 12: another what if

    Just to reinforce Wuzak's comments... RR Derby was a skills-based factory set up to produce small numbers of engines and incorporate modifications as and when necessary. RR Crewe was a production oriented factory set up with more jigs and fixtures than Derby and longer runs of each type...
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    Inverted V engine vs. V engine

    Thanks Wuzak! The 66 came about when the Luftwaffe realised that although at very high attitudes the Spitfire IX neutralised the FW190... at 18,000 to 22,000ft (if memory serves me well!) the DB engine gave their aircraft better performance...so they decided to operate at this altitude, not...
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