Piaggio P.XI

[Dirtyprop]

Greetings all, I am trying to get some information regarding this specific engine. Specifically, in which way it was modified for the altitude record-setting flight in 1937 with Lt. Colonel Pezzi at the controls.

Caproni Ca.161 - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Any ideas? Thanks in advance.

 

[SaparotRob]

Hey Dirtyprop. Welcome. I have no idea but I'm sure your question will be answered by one of the knowledgeable.

 

[MiTasol]

Welcome aboard.

There is/was an excellent site on Italian engines and airframes pre covid that I used to visit occaisionally but I have lost my shortcut to it somehow.

I cannot remember the name for certain but it was something like avia.???.it Try searching using variations on that and also go to this forum as no doubt someone listed it there WW2 Aviation Links (Add your links)

 

[bruno Fox]

From original handbook

 

[Bretoal2]

From original handbook

Thanks for these interesting papers !

Translation of the most important passages

Compression ratio 8
Normal rpm 2400 per minute
Normal ground power 550 hp
Normal power at rated altitude 700 hp
Normal rated altitude 10,000 m.

In order to allow maximum lightness, the entire engine crankcase is made of forged duralumin, while the gearbox casing, the timing cover, the compressor body and the auxiliary controls casing are cast in electron.

The essential feature of the P.XI.RC.100 engine is the compressor unit, of the two-stage type, with fans keyed onto the same axis rotating at the same number of revolutions, with a ratio of 8.4:1.

A special, single-body carburettor is mounted between the first and second stages.



Too bad the text is interrupted on the question of high altitude ignition.

 

[tomo pauk]

From original handbook

Thank you very much, that stuff is excellent
Is the handbook easily available?

 

[MiTasol]

Hi Bruno

Obviously that is a rare book and in danger of becoming extinct so may I suggest that you scan it and post it here for all to enjoy. I am slowly doing this with all my manuals because, even though I have willed my collection to a museum, that is no guarantee that they will survive and be available to the wider public. Another, much younger, private collector I knew died unexpectedly and his family had dumped all his collection before the funeral so I was unable to purchase any of it.

With me living in Australia of course even while they remain available they will still be physically unavailable to many in the wider community unless I post them here and elsewhere.

You can see some of what I have posted at

RAF engine documents

I am now scanning some of my RAF engine manuals and rather than starting a new thread for each will post them here. Others are welcome to post to this thread as well I am starting with AP 1500 Vol I for the de Havilland Gipsy Major series engines. This is an RAAF print and includes an RAAF...

ww2aircraft.net

1930's and 40's de Havilland aircraft and engine documents

I have a small number of original and photocopy de Havilland documents which I am starting to scan and post Here are the first two engines. Both from photocopies. Two originals to follow as soon as I find them.

ww2aircraft.net

Aeroplane Maintenance and Operation series of books from early 40s

I have a bunch of these and I will scan and post them in roughly series order as I get time as they show a lot of details of RAF and Brit aircraft of the period plus the early RAF versions of the Harvard. What many do not know is these also appeared as weekly publications and I have volumes 4...

ww2aircraft.net

If you wish you can scan or photograph them and PM me and I will process and return the results to you so you can post them.

Any one who wants to can transfer large folders of scans or photos or manuals at no cost using WeTransfer - Send Large Files & Share Photos Online - Up to 2GB Free and I use that a lot because it is much more user friendly than Dropbox (which I also use though rarely now). I always use Wetransfer to send manuals to the museums I work with.

 

[Dirtyprop]

From original handbook

Thanks for that, may I presume that the handbook is in your possession?