Radial Engine P-51 Mustang

[EastCoastFan]

Re: Radial Engine P-51 Mustang/PW 2800 Radial

As far as what an R-2800 can do....see Czech Mate. That's pretty solid proof that the R-2800 can run with the BIG BOYS. The R-2800 has proven to be a very reliable engine to boot over time. Now, that being said, I don't know what Czech Mate's team has done with the engine itself for race prep. I doubt that it is completly in "stock" configuration, but those of you who are "in the know" can chime in & add value to the conversation. I think getting the inside scoop on Czech Mate (and the former Perestroika) would make for an interesting feature story.

[EastCoastFan]

Re: Radial Engine P-51 Mustang

BTW-- Thanks for the 3-views of the Radial Mustang & the in-line sea-fury. Great stuff!!! Makes for some really good hanger flying sessions.

[Matt Jackson]

Re: Radial Engine P-51 Mustang

Clay Lacy actually had a drawing of a Mustang configured with a 3350 Turbo Compound. There was a great deal of talk at the time to do it. Alan Paulson of American Jet was involved in the idea. It never came to be. There still might be some pictures out there.

Matt J

[speeddemon]

Re: Radial Engine P-51 Mustang

If you want to use a 2800, put a Bearcat behind it with clipped wings, a really small canopy and a big red 1 on the tail, and it WILL GO FAST.
Round engines forever!!

As much as I loved that airplane, you'd have to do a LOT more than that to make it competitive by today's standards. The best closed-course speed that airframe ever turned was in the 435 range. That is mid-pack Gold at best....but I can name a couple of Sea Furies that might even push it back farther.

[440_Magnum]

Re: Radial Engine P-51 Mustang/PW 2800 Radial

[QUOTE=EastCoastFan]As far as what an R-2800 can do....see Czech Mate. That's pretty solid proof that the R-2800 can run with the BIG BOYS./QUOTE]

Or look back at Conquest 1, or look at its WWII record, or look at is record in passenger liners. No question the R2800 is one of the best large piston aircraft engines of all time, especially in terms of reliability. It was regarded as one of the best engines to come out of WWII, and it was far more successful than the Merlin after the war. And its certainly made a great performer out of the little Yak- buy LITTLE is a very key word in the equation that makes Czech Mate so fast! Mustangs are simply bigger. Stock to stock, the R2800 was the most directly comparable allied engine to the Merlin in power output (and that's according to Rolls-Royce, not just me.) But in modified form, the Merlin has gone considerably further so far. The only thing I question is whether a 2800's performance can be boosted enough to match the performance of a Sparrow Merlin in the Mustang without a whole lot of custom work on the blower section.

[Propellerhead]

Re: Radial Engine P-51 Mustang

Yeah, great engine. Someone ought to write a book....

http://www.amazon.com/2800-Pratt-Whitneys-Dependable-Masterpiece/dp/0768002729/sr=8-1/qid=1161569590/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-3601767-1308735?ie=UTF8

It's really interesting all of the different ways the same engine can be installed in so many a/c.

[First time Juke]

Re: Radial Engine P-51 Mustang

I think Mustang needs a bigger engine than a R-2800 to make it win.

Maybe Mustang outersection of the wings ( sans landing gear ) and Wildcat type gear arrangement ina Bearcat could make a winner. Bearcat is so small.

This Mustang looks pretty though:

http://www.up-ship.com/apr/images/banv4n2.jpg

[matt]

Re: Radial Engine P-51 Mustang

kinda looks like a single seat t-28 don't it.

[speeddemon]

Re: Radial Engine P-51 Mustang

kinda looks like a single seat t-28 don't it.

Yeah, it's not a P-51 without a scoop underneath. Even Stiletto was acceptable because it still had the 'snout' up front.

[Propellerhead]

Re: Radial Engine P-51 Mustang

Yeah, it's not a P-51 without a scoop underneath. Even Stiletto was acceptable because it still had the 'snout' up front.

Looks like a North American "FW"-51...Yuck!

[Bill Marsh]

Re: Radial Engine P-51 Mustang

Looks like this PW // Stang idea will never die.
A previous post CONFIRMED that a tweaked 2800 is capable of alot more relliable and relative cheep power............. so,,,

ANYONE have info of a race guy, race engine, or race plane (2800 that is) .... that was "bench raced" for ideas or actual mods tried?

1. what was the tweaks and what was the result
2. I know the conquest 1 was a light weight design that was slicked up and a stock motoer with DG.

I cant imagine with 10s of thousands of 2800s . in scrap heaps, or "still in the can" that there is little info in the 18 cyl wonder motor

Wasnt this the motor that PW perfected the ADI alcohol / water deal that got rid of the piston / valve heat build up and detonation... and got heaps of power?



BM

[oakfloor]

Re: Radial Engine P-51 Mustang

A T-28 trojan is almost a P-51 with a radial engine. IIRC the C-W R-1820 with 1500HP would climb out with a mustang, until the 51 went into high blower. And if the T-28 had ground clearance for a larger prop it may have been a real performer?

[retroaviation]

Re: Radial Engine P-51 Mustang

I dunno, y'all. For some reason, this just doesn't look like a Gold winner to me.......




Gary

[RandyGoss75]

Re: Radial Engine P-51 Mustang

Now that's funny right there, don't care who you are!

Single row R-2800?

[rmudbugs]

Re: Radial Engine P-51 Mustang

Needs a bigger prop. Great work!