Warbird Information Exchange

Submitted for your consideration...

A man is standing alongside a runway near evening. In the distance, a familiar twin boom aircraft approaches, but the man fails to recognize the sound. As it lands, he notices the stacks he normally sees have been removed, replaced with a great gaping maw of around a foot in diameter, spewing heated air to the sides. As the aircraft taxis past with an unusual howling woosh, he admires the aircraft's lines, and is amazed to realize it may now have much more thrust than before...

So- what do you think- How would a turboprop P-38 be seen? Would it do better or worse than one with an original power plant? It just struck me to wonder this after a weird dream where I dreamt of a PT-6 powered P-38. I have no such aircraft, and have no means to even consider such a thing, so don't worry- none are in danger... But for debate is the question- How do YOU think it would perform?

Robbie

It is definitely an interesting thought, although I'm not personally a fan of it. In the P-38's case, it's the airframes that are rare and not the powerplant that is the problem since it's got the "good" steam powered engine on it.

However, your suggestion makes me think that it might be kind of cool to see a Mustang with a turbine installed...you know, along the lines of the Piper Enforcer (hmmmm, didn't they use an Allison turbine on that???). To me, that would be more a more desireable project, since it would be not only more "modern" with the turbine, but somewhat authentic as well. Randy Haskin could be your liason for all the info you'd need to build it too.....right Randy?

On another note, I would personally love to see someone restore a TBM, Tigercat, etc., in an authentic fire bomber configuration. After all, that would be something nobody else has and, it too, would be authentic.

This oughta be an interesting thread...

Gary

been done, it was called the OV-10 Bronco

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Matt Gunsch, A&P, IA, Warbird maint and restorations
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If you want a WWII fighter, then be authentic, otherwise it's just an outlandish waste of energy for minimal gain. Those two turboprops could carry a lot more people and be used much more efficiently in single-engine installations with more passengers.

Ryan

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Aerial Photographer with Red Wing Aerial Photography currently based at KRBD and tailwheel CFI.
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