General Electric Turbo Supercharger

Tony Kambic said:

Aircraft Engine Historical Society has pages about TurboSuperchargers. I believe you need to join to see those pages.

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Daggerr said:

Have a look in the field service manual: General Electric Turbo-Supercharger ... Field Service Manual

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LeeWheels said:

Hello,

I'm a fairly new member and first-time poster, so forgive me if this is in the wrong place.

I recently purchased a General Electric Turbo Supercharger and was hoping to find a bit more information about it. I believe it is new old stock, never installed on an aircraft due to it being bolted to what is likely the bottom of a shipping crate. It also has two wooden b-off plates still installed to keep things from falling into the openings.

I am hoping someone can tell me what I have here and point me in the direction to learn more about it.

Lee

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ddwhitney said:

Lee,
This appears to be a Type B Turbo as built by General Electric. There should be a data plate near the supercharger outlet, on the outer face. It will tell you the specific model, like B-2, B-23 etc. and the "setting." From that you will know which specific aircraft it was intended for.
I have lots of info on the GE designed turbos, so send me any questions.
Dan Whitney,
dwhitney@surewest.net

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LeeWheels said:

Dan,
Thank you for your help in identifying the turbo supercharger I have. I will look for the data plate near the supercharger outlet and let you know what I find. I am very interested in finding out what aircraft it was intended for. I personally like the P-47 myself, but my wife's grandfather was a co-pilot on a B-17, so she is hoping it was for his aircraft. We will find out.

Lee

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bobm4360 said:

B-2 types were fitted to P-38, B-24, and B-17; V-1710, R-1830, and R-1820 engines. Not enough capacity for P-47, R-2800.

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LeeWheels said:

Dan,

I found the data plate just where you said it would be. I did have to unbolt the unit from the wooden pallet it was on, and then I was able to get a picture of the data plate. Let me know what you think. I also noticed some sort of blue marking on the casting of the supercharger adjacent to the data plate. It looks like two three-digit numbers written by hand with a crayon or a grease pencil. Let me know what you think.

Lee

View attachment 848823View attachment 848824View attachment 848825

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Tony Kambic said:

Here's a few other images related to turbocharging, etc.

B17 inboard firewall, shows on bottom right duct of exhaust to turbocharger; B17 Turbocharger on outboard engine; BMW801TJ, turbocharged BMW for Ju388; blown out turbocharger from a R1830 caused by piston-eating valve;F6F Intercooler; Hirth Turbocharger from BV155; P47 turbocharger system displayed at National Museum of WWII Aviation, Colorado Springs; piston eating valve; power recovery turbine in a R3350; Turbocharger spares.

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ddwhitney said:

Type B-2 TurboSupercharger Arrangements
Airplane Model	Engine	Type of Turbo	AAF Setting No.	Installed
YP-38 thru P-38F, F-4, F-4A	V-1710-49	B-2	2	RH
YP-38 thru P-38F, F-4, F-4A	V-1710-53	B-2	3	LH
P-38G, F-5A	V-1710-51	B-13	2	RH
P-38G, F-5A	V-1710-55	B-13	3	LH
P-38H	V-1710-89	B-33	2	RH
P-38H	V-1710-91	B-33	3	LH
YP-43 thru P-43-A-1	R-1830-49	B-2	7
B-24C, D, E	R-1830	B-2	6	1, 2, 3, 4
B-17B, Inboard	R-1820	B-3	2	2 & 3
B-17B, Outboard	R-1820	B-3	3	1 & 4
B-17C, D, E & F, Inboard	R-1820	B-2	4	2 & 3
B-17C, D, E & F, Outboard	R-1820	B-2	5	1 & 4
B-29	R-3350	B-11-C1	1	Left Side, 1, 2, 3 & 4
B-29	R-3350	B-11-C2	2	Right Side, 1, 2, 3 & 4

Notes: The relationship (Setting) between the compressor and turbine sections could be any one of eight symmetric positions, determined at final assembly to fit a particular aircraft installation.

The basic Type B-2 was intended for 1,000 hp engines. The B-11 had improved materials in the turbine wheel allowing rated speed to increase from 21,300 rpm to 24,000 rpm. Type B-13 had a different supercharger diffuser, enlarged for rating at 1,100 hp. The B-33 is the same as the B-13, but fitted with the 24,000 rpm turbine, which improved the rated ceiling from 25,000 ft to 30,000 ft.

Information from Tech Order AN 03-10DA-1, November 20, 1943.
Compiled by Dan Whitney, 9/29/2025

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