[Bob Lennon]

Wade, I was going to send this directly to you but I though the other super charger freaks on the site would also enjoy it.

We all get so into the latest greatest, votec, paxton, procter silex...centrifical....Well hell that ain't nothin.....Hell they were doing that stuff back in the early 1940's....at PACKARD!!!!!!!!!!

Check out this centrifical.... then check out what its blowin on. Yeah that right it is run off the crank shaft.

It is a rolls royce engine called a merlin but it was built by packard here in the States and was run, I should say IS run, in the legendary P-51 mustang. this is the fighter plane which accompanied the B-51 bombers over germany in WW2.

It's a V12 putting out over 600 dependable horses at low rpms.

WADE, do you think we could fabricate a bracket to mount one on my 302?

 

[Aaron Silidker]

WOW!!! That is awesome, must weigh ALOT though.

 

[Horizon200]

.... accompanied the B-51 bombers over germany in WW2

Ummm I think you mean B-17's

If my mind isn't failing me, the P-51 was designed for the Brits with an Allison engine. The Allison was a POS and the Brits put their Merlin in and loved the plane. After we saw what it could do with the Merlin in it, we started production for our own Army Air Forces.

 

[bwana50]

Ah, the sound those make! Certainly in the top five best-sounding piston engines of all time. (In no particular order, my version of that list includes the Merlin V-12, BB Cobra, any Italian V-12, Top Fuel engine at idle, and the BRM V-16.)

 

[C U BYE]

Ah, the money they get for those engines! I priced out a prop for the P-51 Mustang, it was more than my house.

 

[fiveliter8]

Man, you oughtta go to the RENO air races. Oooooo, the sights and sounds of warbirds zooming by at breakneck speeds only feet from the earth. Mustangs, bearcats, lightnings....oooooolala!

Alex

 

[Metal-Morphous]

The Bearcat is like the 427 s/c of airplanes, you gota see this thing clime. Its a shame it didn't get its chance to prove its ablities, jet were coming in and props were going out at the time.
It too has a sound you dont forget.

 

[chmasy]

Now This is a motor, the pratt R-4360 wasp

I wonder if it could be fit in??

 

[Wade Chamberlain]

Hey Bob - I've got a new blade in the sawzall and a fresh spool of wire in the mig welder. Come on over!

[ August 18, 2002, 08:28 AM: Message edited by: Wade Chamberlain ]

 

[bwana50]

Man, you oughtta go to the RENO air races.

I had tickets and motel reservations for last year (would have been my first time), but then those pesky terrorists spoiled everybody's party and they had to cancel the races. I'm planning to go this year!

 

[C U BYE]

The Bearcat was the only prop airplane to score a confirmed jet (ME262) kill at the end of WWII. Fastest prop plane built, but without the handling of a P-51 Mustang.
Go to RENO. You won't regret it.

 

[Horizon200]

C U Bye,
I think you got your planes mixed. The Bearcat didn't see operational service in WWII. However, the P-51 Mustang did shoot down some ME-262's
The tactic was to hit them during takeoff or landing phase when they didn't have all the smash built up. Once they were at speed, it was near impossible to do anything with them.
Maj Don Bochkay scored the following kills

02-09-45 Fulda, Germany- Me 262 Victory!
04-18-45 Prague, Czech.- another Me 262 Victory.

This from web page

Not slamming anyone or the Bearcat, just thought I'd share some more history on a great plane! And yes I'd love to go to the Reno races too!

[ August 19, 2002, 08:40 AM: Message edited by: Horizon200 ]

 

[John Casey]

02-09-45 Fulda, Germany- Me 262 Victory!
04-18-45 Prague, Czech.- another Me 262 Victory.

I believe your boy Chuck Yeager was responsible for the one in Fulda.

 

[dbarrym]

Folks - I have two VIP seats in Box #B-4 on the East side near the pits. The package includes VIP parking vouchers and all-access Pit Passes. These are for the entire week, Tuesday 9/12 to Sunday 9/15.

Unfortunately, it looks like I may not be able to go this year and I might (might) have to sell these. $470 for both seats. Email me if interested.

Boxes are THE way to go - you can bring in a cooler (only box seat holders can do this) and are free to roam around the pits, you can even sit in the open seating grandstands if you'd like a change of pace.

 

[paulgregory]

Remember guys, the merlin powered mustangs have a TWO SPEED
super charger

 

[n559br]

Yeah but the P-38 had 2 of 'em. It ran so hot the exhaust had to be run out the top so the glow could not be seen from the ground.

Ben

 

[CobraEarl]

Originally posted by chmasy:
Now This is a motor, the pratt R-4360 wasp
I wonder if it could be fit in??

Thats a 24 cyl engine?? or More?

earl

 

[DevilDog]

I don't know too much about the radial engines but I seem to recall that each bank had an odd number of cylinders. I would guess 28 total. Ok Radial experts enlighten us : )