Best aircraft engine to see widespread use

DerAdlerIstGelandet · 01-04-2006, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jabberwocky

Quote:

Originally Posted by Udet

Quote:

The DB 605 really only powered the late Me-110G, some Me-210s, the Bf 109G/K serise and the Italian MC 205 and G.55.

ermm...what was the purpose of writing something that in the end tells you agree with me?

If the modified DB 605 powered, say, the G (G-5, G-6 and more importantly the G-14) series of the Bf 109 alone, that will automatically make it an engine that saw widespread usage.

Not when you compare it to the Merlin, R-2800, R-1820, V-1710 or VK-105, all of which powered in excess of 30,000 different planes and at least a dozen different airframes.

That is still widespread usage by the DB-605 series, lets see, lets break it down:

Well lets see the DB605:

Bf-109G-1: DB605A Number built: 167
Bf-109G-2: DB 605A Number built: 1587
Bf-109G-3: DB-605A Number built: 50
Bf-109G-4: DB-605A Number built: 1240
Bf-109G-5: DB-605AS Number built: 475
Bf-109G-6: DB-605A/DB-605AS Number built: 12000
Bf-109G-14: DB-605A/DB-605AS Number built: 5000
Bf-109G-10: DB-605DM Number built: 2600
Bf-109K-4: DB-605D Number built: 1700
Bf-110G series: DB-605B Number built: Not sure but I am looking for it, would asume it to be over 1000 built.

That alone adds up to atleast 25819 aircraft that used the DB-605 series engine. I am sure that if we check we will find more aircraft that used it. That is pretty wide spread use if you ask me.

Smokey · 01-04-2006, 01:27 PM

Looks like the top three piston engines to see widespread use are the Daimler Benz DB 605, Rolls Royce Merlin and Pratt & Whitney R2800

Magister · 01-04-2006, 01:59 PM

And so of those three, which had the best mix of reliability and power?

Smokey · 01-04-2006, 02:43 PM

Radials are aircooled and seem to have a reputation for being tougher than inlines, so the Pratt & Whitney R2800 may be the toughest

wmaxt · 01-04-2006, 05:17 PM

Well the Allison was as follows
1. P-39 - 9,585
2. P-38 - 10,000
3. P-40 - 13,732 (Allison equiped)
4. P-51A, A-36 - 310 to 500 (dep on source)
5. P-63 - 3,303
6. P-82 - 250
Total = 37,370 aircraft

A total of 70,000 Allison engines were built.

wmaxt

DerAdlerIstGelandet · 01-05-2006, 12:01 PM

I agree the Allison engines should be up there. My posting was just a point though that the DB-605 was also wide spread used and that just because 10 different countries did not use it does not mean that it was not.

KraziKanuK · 01-06-2006, 05:55 PM

There was something like 150,000 Merlins manufactured.

R-2800 - 114,073 from 1941 to wars end.
R-1830 - 166,504

FLYBOYJ · 01-07-2006, 08:41 AM

Add about another 4,000 R-2800s for the DC-6, Convair 240/440, C-89, CH-37, C-123B, Martin 202 and 404, AJ-1, Breguet BR-765, and PBM-5 in the post war years - some of these aircraft flew into the 70s. It would not surprise me if there 300,000 R-2800s built

helmitsmit · 01-07-2006, 09:45 AM

The merlins power rating were also a bit conservative Rolls royce claimed to have cleared the merlin to 3000hp at 3000rpm yet in service the maximum was 2050hp with the 130 series installed on the Hornets

helmitsmit · 01-07-2006, 09:56 AM

If the Germans could have gotten the higher octane fuels 100 or 150 octane:
1. The DB601a would have had a similar rating to the RR Griffon 60series and would have seen more use.
2. the replacement the DB605 could have had a rating of about 2400hp a therefore it would have been right up there with the merlins and R2800 as as a great engine.

KraziKanuK · 01-07-2006, 12:04 PM

Helmit, the Germans did have a high octane fuel, C3.

http://www.fischer-tropsch.org/Tom%2...0Item%206A.pdf
http://www.fischer-tropsch.org/prima...145_45_toc.htm

helmitsmit · 01-08-2006, 08:06 AM

I found this in the web link (which was excellent): . (The C-3 grade corresponded roughly to the U. S. grade 130 gasoline, although the octane number of C-3 was specified to be only 95 and its lean mixture performance was somewhat poorer.)

DerAdlerIstGelandet · 01-08-2006, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by helmitsmit

If the Germans could have gotten the higher octane fuels 100 or 150 octane:
1. The DB601a would have had a similar rating to the RR Griffon 60series and would have seen more use.

I doubt it, with the development of the DB-605. Plus they would have developed more powerful engines anyhow.

Quote:

Originally Posted by helmitsmit

2. the replacement the DB605 could have had a rating of about 2400hp a therefore it would have been right up there with the merlins and R2800 as as a great engine.

The next level of the DB-605 was the DB-605L and was supposed to be used in the Bf-109K series however it was not available at the time and they had to use the DB-605D. Anyhow the DB-605L was supposed to be rated at 2400hp.