Hi everyone,
I`m an engineer writing a book about WW2 fighter aircraft piston engine development - in fact to be published by
a fellow member on the forum Dan Sharp early next year.
I`m interested in engine applications, which of course applies to lots of drawing-board only aircraft which never flew.
If you want to know something about WW2 piston aero engine development there is a pretty good
chance I can help, sadly as I`m not a pilot I can`t consider myself any sort of expert on flight
or flight characteristics, so I am always interested in learning more on that aspect.
Looking forward to being able to contribute, and will try to keep shameless self publicity of my book
to sensible levels.
I sometimes make YouTube vids on aero engine theory, and recently re-drew the Mukulin AM35/38 supercharger swirl
throttle from wartime drawings, and 3D printed it (the ring-gear which actually moves is hidden in this shot)
View attachment 619008
All the best
Hello Mr Douglas,
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High performance piston engines are a fascinating subject indeed. Slowly working
(after a 2-year interruption, work should resume early next year) on background data to support a "
1963-1967 WWIII air combat game" I have been more than interested by the latest iterations of these engines, either those having reached operational life or the various attempts to go one step further. Some of these attempts were probably ill fated from the beginning (eg: Wright R-2160 Tornado) while others just came in too late as the gas turbines supplanted them (eg: P&W R4360 VDT). Then there were the engines developped in the "wrong" countries (re: various late WWII German and Japanese developments) - these were understandably swallowed by an unforgiving history.
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I would personally (and selfishly!) be interested in the feasible development of V12 engines (Packard V1650.9, Allison V1710.117, Rolls.Royce Grifon.85, Hispano Suiza 12Z, Daimler's DB605DC, DB603S1, Klimov VK107A, Mikulin AM42) both in terms of output at sea level or at altitude, and in terms of specific fuel consumption. This interest should not overshadow similar developments studied to further improve big radials, like the above mentioned R4360, or R3350 to only mention of couple of American iconic ones, nor what either Lycoming (R7755) BMW (801F, 801Q, 803) , Nakajima (Ha219RU, Ha-505), Shvetsov (Ash-73TK turbo compound), Bristol (Centaurus 373), or Junkers (Jumo 224) could have achieved with their respective endevour. I confess I can't forget the Canadians choosing the R3350 against gas turbines on the ground of fuel efficiency for their Argus ASW patrol craft in the late fifties.
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One might only guess what a CAC CA-15 Kangaroo could have been capable of if powered by something even more pushy than the already respectful Griffon.61, and the same reflexion applies to either the Fiat G55/56, the Yakovlev Yak-9, the Norh American F-51 Mustang, the Republic F-47 Thunderbolt, the Vought F2G-2/AU1 Corsair or the Supermarine Seafang, to only mention a few proven types (or evolution thereof) and extends to interesting but ill-fated designs like the Vought F5U Flapjack, the Mansyu Ki98 or the similarly looking SCNASO SO.8000 Narval. This subjective selection is intentionally restrictive and excludes multi-engined aircraft, whichever their intended purpose (heavy fighter, light or heavy bombers, cargo transports, or airliners).
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At this stage of my preliminary work I only applied such fictional powerplants on a couple of fantasy designs - and I will save you the whys and hows - but a couple more could be added to please amateurs of such fantasies. Then the question is :
how far one may go while keeping these fantasies within the realm of reason ? Imagining a R43
70VDT or a TK11 turbocharged DB603S was easy and not too far fetched. Production Bristol Centaurus.373 or Napier Sabre.V/E122 would be quick picks while post-war production of Ha-505s (licensed) or Lycoming R7755 an unnecessary stretch of imagination. But how far one might venture about the V12s, the R-2000-7M2, and the R3350 (4000 hp?) without being ridiculed ?
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You asked who would be interested by what in the matter of piston engines - well, here you got it ! Best regards,
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Pierre Deveaux
Rue Saxe Cobourg 23
B-1210 BRUSSELS Belgium
Tel: +32.22.21.99.58 - Home
Tel: +32.485.336300 - Mobile
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