7-1/2 Hour WEP test on R-2800

Sal Monella · 07-19-2006, 05:27 PM

No doubt contributed to one of the the Thunderbolt's nicknames - "Indestructible"

Twitch · 07-19-2006, 06:33 PM

For me the real test of indestructability comes in combat. P & Ws in the Jug often returned home with as many as 5 cylinders shot out. Can't do that in a liquid-cooled!

syscom3 · 07-19-2006, 09:01 PM

Good find Sal.

Where did you find a gem of a document like that?

Sal Monella · 07-19-2006, 09:18 PM

You know, for years I heard of the story of a hellish torture test of an R-2800. The story had a mythical proportion to it. I mean, these guys would pour on the WEP for what, 5-10 minutes at a pop? I could see an engine surviving 1/2 hour of that torture but for about a 1/3 of a day straight?

Anyway, I came across it on the Spitfire Performance Testing site. There is a wealth of stuff on there but you have to dig for it. It isn't all linked on the first page.

Enjoy!

red admiral · 07-20-2006, 04:39 AM

Quote:

P & Ws in the Jug often returned home with as many as 5 cylinders shot out. Can't do that in a liquid-cooled!

"Often" is not the word I would use. In a survey of 500 US aircraft in PTO (all single radial-engines) only 30% made it home after an engine hit. The study was in 44 iirc. Most of the strikes were mg. In ETO with more planes mounting 20mm/30mm then there's hardly any chance of surviving an engine hit.