Ever wonder about the Wright R-3350 TC18 Power Recovery Turbine? (1 Viewer)

[Tom Fey]

Thirty-two minutes of PRT trivia:
View: https://youtu.be/1j9164wb6TE

 

[MIflyer]

Back in 2001 I saw those on a Super Connie they had at Camarillo Airport. Note that it had three turbines.

I saw a video in which a former Lufthansa pilot described the Super Connie as "A three engined airplane with four engines" which gives you some indication of the engine's reliability. A friend of mine served on EC-121 crews that flew out of McDill AFB and did radar surveillance to see if there was traffic between Cuba and Nicaragua. They would shut down the two outer engines to extend their mission time.

 

[fannum]

A friend of mine served on EC-121 crews that flew out of McDill AFB and did radar surveillance to see if there was traffic between Cuba and Nicaragua. They would shut down the two outer engines to extend their mission time.

A common practice on Nam EW and WV weather Connies. Still used today for long patrol P-3s and EW C-130s.

Addenda: Just checked with a friend who was an E-2 driver to make sure his tales were not sea stories.
He swore on the Bluejacket's Manual that when he was in S2Fs doing long anti-sub, and later when on station in E-2s, they'd shut down and feather the port engine to extend duration, and Grumman had built in plenty of trim to make it a no-sweat procedure.
Yes, boys and girls, Official Gouge: this ain't no sh@t!!!

 

[SaparotRob]

GO GRUMMAN!
Blue paint for everyone.

 

[fannum]

btw - Burt and Dick Rutan's orbital Voyager only used the larger forward engine for the takeoff and first third of the flight, shutting it down for the efficiency needed to complete circling the globe.