Readie
Chief Master Sergeant
Had Allison's engineers been able to put the effort into gear-driven superchargers that Pratt and Whitney and Rolls-Royce did, it might have been a different story. As it was, there can be little doubt that the V-1710 had more potential than was actually exploited.
The V -1710 was an airship engine! Around the time that the Army was washing its hands of the Curtiss Conqueror, Allison began to develop its own engine, at the request of Allison General manager Norm Gilman. The target was 1,000 hp, and Allison intended that the engine should be large enough to deliver this power easily. A successful V-1710-A was test run in 1931 and delivered 650 hp at 2,400 RPM on 80-octane fuel. Development proceeded slowly until the Navy entered the picture. The Navy, while not losing its attachment to air-cooled power plants for airplanes, needed liquid cooling for dirigibles.
Power-to-weight ratio: 0.90 hp/lb
The Merlin/ PV12 was designed from the out set as a new generation fighter/bomber engine.
The Merlin was the most successful aircraft engines of the World War II era, and many variants were built by Rolls-Royce in Derby, Crewe and Glasgow,as well as by Ford of Britain in Trafford Park, near Manchester. The Packard V-1650 was a version of the Merlin built in the United States. Production ceased in 1950 after a total of almost 150,000 engines had been delivered, the later variants being used for airliners and military transport aircraft.
Also used in tanks.
Power-to-weight ratio: 0.96 hp/lb
Very near the magic 100hp/Lb mark.
Allison V RR/Packard Merlin? No contest.
Cheers
John
The V -1710 was an airship engine! Around the time that the Army was washing its hands of the Curtiss Conqueror, Allison began to develop its own engine, at the request of Allison General manager Norm Gilman. The target was 1,000 hp, and Allison intended that the engine should be large enough to deliver this power easily. A successful V-1710-A was test run in 1931 and delivered 650 hp at 2,400 RPM on 80-octane fuel. Development proceeded slowly until the Navy entered the picture. The Navy, while not losing its attachment to air-cooled power plants for airplanes, needed liquid cooling for dirigibles.
Power-to-weight ratio: 0.90 hp/lb
The Merlin/ PV12 was designed from the out set as a new generation fighter/bomber engine.
The Merlin was the most successful aircraft engines of the World War II era, and many variants were built by Rolls-Royce in Derby, Crewe and Glasgow,as well as by Ford of Britain in Trafford Park, near Manchester. The Packard V-1650 was a version of the Merlin built in the United States. Production ceased in 1950 after a total of almost 150,000 engines had been delivered, the later variants being used for airliners and military transport aircraft.
Also used in tanks.
Power-to-weight ratio: 0.96 hp/lb
Very near the magic 100hp/Lb mark.
Allison V RR/Packard Merlin? No contest.
Cheers
John