Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Common Interests odd ww2 aircraft engine

Hey the valkyrie, that is a sweet aircraft unfortuantely when that trainer got sucked into it's trailing edge it kinda closed any future for it.

Here are my favorites, I love the old warbirds





my grandma used to assemble these(the real ones not this model) Apparently some of their assembly was done in hagarsvill



my great uncle was a tail gunner in a lanc. The name of his bird was called the viscious virgin

My grandfather help build these here on Long Island:



I remember sitting in one as a kid when I went to visit him at the Fairchild/Republic plant in Farmingdale...

A10 Warthog "Tank Buster" Those things were nice. SR71 is pretty cool if you like a jet that just hauls. I have always been partial to the F-15 myself. My brother was in the Air Force as a load toad a couple of years ago and I got to sit in one. Just got to look at all the dials and such though.

The Mig 25 Foxbat was designed to intercept the XB-70 Valkrie initially and assumed an SR-71 hunter role when the XB project was cancelled. It is the fastest combat aircraft ever produced (the SR-71 was designed from the outset for a reconnaissance role). It is capable of mach 3.2 speeds and can reach altitudes well into the stratosphere. It is powered by two Tumansky R-266 turbojet engines, each developing a maximum thrust of almost 30,000 pounds. Although it was never intended to be a dog fighter, it will outrun any combat aircraft currently in service in the US Air Forces.





Cockpit view from ~80,000 ft (24 km)

I saw one of these once, flying too.



The sound was amazing, better than 99% of cars I've heard.

You have to hear a radial engine running. If you can hear it up close thats even better. The sound they make is like no other. Its very deep and drony, almost sounds evil and hearing a multi-engine aircraft will make the hairs stand up on the back of your neck.

here is my most favorite war bird. The F4 corsair. Why, the gull wings make it look intimidating, plus it has a 2800 CI 18 cylinder(46 liter) engine that makes over 100 horsepower per cylinder. Click the link for full text and scroll down and theres a section about the water/methanol injection system, it was called "war emergency power"

http://www.aviation-history.com/vought/f4u.htm

Those are based here at Bradley airport where I work. They do all their flight training around the airport too. Since I live not too far away I usually see them all the time.

Actually all military aircraft tires are filled with nitrogen.

It's because it does not have any water vapor (moisture) in it and resists compressing and contracting due to heat cycling. (stable pressure)

I've filled many of tires...

Also the SR-71 is a favorite of mine too. Like stated, the technology was far ahead of it's time.

Kind of like stealth technology. Ever notice how the "Stealth Fighter" (that's a joke & another story in itself) has a designation number of F-117A. They stopped using the old designations in 18 September 1962.

For instance the F-16A was designed in early 1972...

Makes you wonder what else they've had around for years and we don't know about...

The Republic P-47M Thunderbolt was the fastest propellor-driven, single-seat fighter/interceptor to serve in any air force during WWII. It was fitted with the Pratt & Whitney R-2800-57. This engine made 2,800 hp @ 2,800 rpm at 35,000 feet. The aircraft actually attained 507 mph at an altitude of 34,300 feet. 2,800 hp is 133% of rated power. At military power (100%), the P-47M could sustain 470 mph. 435 mph was attained at 81% of its rated power (1,700 hp). It had a climb rate at sea level of 4,900 fpm. At 20,000 feet, it was still rocketing up at 4,400 fpm, and got there in 4 minutes, 15 seconds. Time to 30,000 feet was only 6 minutes, 45 seconds. Yet it had a usable range of 1,075 miles.

Like a Hemi-powered Dodge Charger of the late 60's, it couldn't turn but in a straight line, it was just about unbeatable.

military and civilian aircraft alike all use nitrogen in all areas where is gas is used, wether its in tires, shock struts or accumulators. Its used for exactly the reasons you say, its dry, and is stable at high pressures and temperatures, plus its an inert gas so it won't react with other metals, seals, or fluids used in aircraft systems.