Air racing engines HP output?

[famvburg]

I'm just curious, but ISTR having read off & on that most racing engines put out between 4,000 & 5,000 horses. That's a lot of power! Anyway, is that about right? More specifically, what about the typical racing Merlin? Griffon? R-2800 (if any are used now)? How about the R-3350 & R-4360? Seems like the 3350 is more common than the 4360. I'm guessing the 3350 can generate as much as the 4360 but in a smaller package (both physical size & weight). I'd also suspect that long crankshaft in the 4360's doesn't tolerate all that hard work in such a short time well, too.

[Shedwork]

Sorry can't really help with answers to all your questions but you might find this an interesting read:

http://www.enginehistory.org/rolls-royce.htm

Titled "One Second in the Life of Racer." by Tom Fey

Cheers

Mark

[AIRIC]

Very interesting.

Eric

[sdennison]

Are the race engines dyno'ed? If so, at what power?

[JDK]

Some very good stuff here:

http://warbirdaeropress.com/articles/Mo ... s/Mods.htm

http://warbirdaeropress.com/articles/Dr ... ought2.htm

It might be obvious to say, but of course lots of the competitive racers aren't telling... Would you expect Ferrari to fess up? (oops).

[engguy]

Some of the large radial's have a torquemeter that will measure the applied torque, and thus HP output. The smaller engines like the V-12s can be run on a dynamometer, and also since they are liquid cooled its easier to run without a propeller, and control temperature etc.

[ZRX61]

I've heard (from a crew member) 5000hp+ for RareBear when the NO2 is flowing... & that was about 8 years ago...