10 000 hp radial !!!

[First time Juke]

What could be build around this ?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3iyOvLXxF0

...and this 42 litre Packard; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DruAU...eature=related...and 41 litre; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XyOK...eature=related

[Gibbs]

Re: 10 000 hp radial !!!

Hi Juke,

DRAGONFIRE is surely one of the most powerful tractors in the world (I've seen it live, sound was suprisingly not so impressive like as example a Griffon-engined tractor), but motor alone weighs more than 4 tons, absolutely not suitable for air racers...

Gibbs

[IcePaq]

Re: 10 000 hp radial !!!

I believe that engine also started life as a diesel.

[Gibbs]

Re: 10 000 hp radial !!!

yep, that's true: ex-super- and turbocharged diesel converted to supercharging only and methanol injection. But all the tractor pulling insiders are saying to maintain and set up such a tremendous engine is not to handle from a very small non-professional team like the DRAGONFIRE enthusiasts.

Since some times no news on their website, maybe project is cancelled...

Gibbs

[AirDOGGe]

Re: 10 000 hp radial !!!

I've seen many videos of it run, so maybe it finally wore out or broke, or they simply just stopped racing it.



By the way, Wright was working on their own 42 cylinder radial. It was quite smaller though at 2,160 cubic inches and sub-2400 hp rating, but it was light enough to fly in a warbird fighter of 1940s vintage.

And if development had continued, it would have gotten stronger:

"QUOTE:..Planned further development of the dash 19 engine was expected to yield approx 4,000 hp and a speed of 540 mph at 25,000 ft."

Details HERE. <-- (click link)

[First time Juke]

Re: 10 000 hp radial !!!

It was to be used in XP-69...any pics of it ?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_XP-69

----

edit; http://www.anigrand.com/AA2069_XP-69.htm

[AirDOGGe]

Re: 10 000 hp radial !!!

It was to be used in XP-69...any pics of it ?

Only a 3/4 scale mock-up. The plane itself was canceled and never built.








.

[W J Pearce]

Re: 10 000 hp radial !!!

In addition to the Republic XP-69, the Wright R-2160 was also proposed for the Hughes D-2, Lockheed XP-58, Vultee XP-68, and Curtiss XP-71.

I believe there were two other 42-cylider aircraft engines: the Swedish Mannerstedt M and the French Mathis 42E00.

[AirDOGGe]

Re: 10 000 hp radial !!!

Bill, very interesting that you displayed those photos of the model in the 30'x60' tunnel at Langley.

Not 15 minutes ago I was viewing a tribute video of that historic tunnel, which was sadly demolished only a couple of years ago. Said video feature it's construction, operation and final demise. I discovered it last night while viewing NASA's research sites on Google Earth and noticed that the full scale facility was gone! I knew they were talking about demolishing it and that people were trying to preserve that historic structure, but I didn't known that they had brought it down already.


Just about every flying machine you can think of that was designed in the USA (and many you never even conceived of!) has "flown" in that facility. Everything from the Wright Flyer to space capsules, from zeppelins to hypersonic jets...and all are shown in this video.


Here's that well-made tribute video, worthy of keeping a copy of. Warning, it can be fairly emotional in the latter half as they tear the ol' girl apart. I know it almost brought a tear to my eye, but then again I'm an old softie with this kind of stuff.


[YT]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMpYvXjvARc&lr=1&feature=mhee[/YT]

[W J Pearce]

Re: 10 000 hp radial !!!

Thanks for the link to the great video; many interesting shapes. Sad to see it go. At 1:50 they are testing a model of the XB-19. Same one in front of the XP-69 in this image.