Merlin Men Part Deux

[Jack Cook]

Mechs of the 41st FS 5th AF at work on a P-51D in 1945

[Django]

That kicks ass!

[Jack Cook]

BTW thems looks like those big-*ss metal drop tanks

[51fixer]

Mechs of the 41st FS 5th AF at work on a P-51D in 1945

Changing spark plugs and other engine stuff. Round containers that look like shotgun shells on ground are cardboard tubes which hold the new spark plugs. Filter elements are out of the intake filter box as you can see daylight thru it. All paint on the back of prop blades has been blasted away. The rubber cuffs at the base of the prop blades are still black as they are rubber.
Rich

[AeroTRrat]

Hey, I have a buch of nos ac LS87 plugs in those cardboard tubes!

I was told that P-51 pilots were required to keep revs up while taxiing and go ahead and ride the brakes while fishtailing because it was much quicker to change the brakes than swap all those plugs if they fouled.

and I used to complain when we had to change the plugs in the 962 while it was still in the car. Big Deal!

Dave

[retroaviation]

Hey, I have a buch of nos ac LS87 plugs in those cardboard tubes!

I was told that P-51 pilots were required to keep revs up while taxiing and go ahead and ride the brakes while fishtailing because it was much quicker to change the brakes than swap all those plugs if they fouled.

and I used to complain when we had to change the plugs in the 962 while it was still in the car. Big Deal!

Dave

Yeah, I'm sure Sparrow could elaborate on this one, but I can't tell you how many times we've found lost spark plugs and spark plug sockets in the "pit" of a Merlin when guys dropped them down there to never see them again. I used to have a special set up made just for the Merlin engine that had a socket and extension permanently attached to one another so that the socket couldn't come off and drop into the "pit" while changing plugs.

Have I ever mentioned that I think Merlins can be maintenance pigs? There's a reason you never see interviews with Mustang mechanics on the Discovery Channel......there would be too much swearing for family programming.

Gary

[Hal B]

Have I ever mentioned that I think Merlins can be maintenance pigs? There's a reason you never see interviews with Mustang mechanics on the Discovery Channel......there would be too much swearing for family programming.

Gary

Yes you have, Gary And changing the plugs isn't THAT bad (you don't get any hot oil dripped on you during the process)

[retroaviation]

Yes you have, Gary And changing the plugs isn't THAT bad (you don't get any hot oil dripped on you during the process)

Good point.

Gary