superchargers on warbirds

[Matt_in_NC]

I'm curious. Of the warbirds flying today, how many have working superchargers? I know that most (all?) of the P-38's don't have working ones, but what about Corsairs, Mustangs, everything else with a blower on it? I realize that most warbirds do not fly in the stratosphere these days, but are the systems that complex? Is it a simplicity/reliability issue? Thanks in advance.

[51fixer]

I'm curious. Of the warbirds flying today, how many have working superchargers? I know that most (all?) of the P-38's don't have working ones, but what about Corsairs, Mustangs, everything else with a blower on it? I realize that most warbirds do not fly in the stratosphere these days, but are the systems that complex? Is it a simplicity/reliability issue? Thanks in advance.

Every high horsepower aircraft engine has a supercharger that I can think of. Even the P-38 has a supercharger mounted in the engine. What you are referring to is the turbo-supercharger mounted in the boom.
Rich

[Steve S]

Just to clarify- are we talking Super chargers or Turbo chargers.

I think that most supercharged engines ( compresser directly coupled to engine ) are still using the supercharges. They seem to be pretty reliable and simple in operation. I am not 100% certain but think that the extra horspower derived from a supercharger is calculated into the operating requirements of the aircraft for takeoff so they are probaly required to be able to fly the aircraft.

Now turbos (Compressor driven off of exaust gasses) are another matter. These can be finicky and require a lot of maintenance. Most of the warbirds I have worked with that had Turbos from the factory have had them removed or disabled. Not sure, but I believe that the turbos are primarily intended to give added boost at higher altitudes- which is not really an issue for the warbirds we are seeing on the show circuit.

I do know that there is at least one P47 with working Turbos and until recently a couple of B17's- but the parts are getting pretty hard to come by.

Steve S

Last edited by Steve S on Fri May 02, 2008 11:51 am, edited 1 time in total.

[Ztex]

B-17 Chuckie's turbos are in working order...It is amazing the power difference it makes with those things dialed up!
Of course they don't turn that knob very often...saves on wear and tear.

[51fixer]

The 1340 Pratt in a T-6 has a supercharger. Many engines were built with different supercharger setups. The Merlin has quite a variety which was a factor of the ever changing demands to counter the enemy threats as they changed. The R-2800 Pratt underwent a similar evolution of supercharger types. It is hard to describe here but there are a variety of books on these engines that give great detail into the whys and hows of their development.
Basically todays operation doesn't require the high altitude requirement so many aircraft have been altered from stock in the area of supercharger and turbocharger to reduce complexity, ease wear and tear and simplify operation. The P-47, P-63, P-38, F8F, F4U/FG are among the ones that come to mind at the moment.
Rich

[kmiles]

Nine-O-Nine has has the turbochargers (the ones on the bottom side of the nacelle) disabled. Witchcraft still has them active, although they do not get used too often. Both the B-17 and B-24 use the same turbocharger as the P-38, just the exhaust and intake sides are set up at different angles to each other depending on the aicraft and engine position.

[mtpopejoy]

Are the Yankee Lady's turbochargers active?

I know they are there and I assumed operational but maybe not.

[Matt_in_NC]

Thanks for the replies. I was referring to the turbos, but was in need of some education!! I know that it's a popular mod for Corsairs to have later R-2800's on them for reliability issues, and I was reading in the thread about the French Corsairs that the "F4U-7" flying in Europe has had the supercharger disconnected. I was just wondering about other warbirds and how "stock" their powerplants were. Does anyone know if the FG-1D that went to Vintage Wings of Canada had an original engine? I know that that airplane was supposed to be practically 100% stock. just curious. That has to be my favorite Corsair, by the way. Do the turbos work on Glacier Girl?

[mtpopejoy]

Correct me if I'm wrong (and I probably am) but I thought "Ruff Stuff" was the only 38 with operational turbo-superchargers.

[Matt Gunsch]

Thanks for the replies. I was referring to the turbos, but was in need of some education!! I know that it's a popular mod for Corsairs to have later R-2800's on them for reliability issues, and I was reading in the thread about the French Corsairs that the "F4U-7" flying in Europe has had the supercharger disconnected. I was just wondering about other warbirds and how "stock" their powerplants were. Does anyone know if the FG-1D that went to Vintage Wings of Canada had an original engine? I know that that airplane was supposed to be practically 100% stock. just curious. That has to be my favorite Corsair, by the way. Do the turbos work on Glacier Girl?

I think what they meant by dissconnected is that they are not able to switch the speed of the superchargers. The R-1340 is a single speed blower, where most of the larger high horsepower engines are 2 speed blowers, some change speeds automatically, others require the pilot to select either Hi or Lo Blower, depending on altitude.

[51fixer]

Thanks for the replies. I was referring to the turbos, but was in need of some education!! I know that it's a popular mod for Corsairs to have later R-2800's on them for reliability issues, and I was reading in the thread about the French Corsairs that the "F4U-7" flying in Europe has had the supercharger disconnected. I was just wondering about other warbirds and how "stock" their powerplants were. Does anyone know if the FG-1D that went to Vintage Wings of Canada had an original engine? I know that that airplane was supposed to be practically 100% stock. just curious. That has to be my favorite Corsair, by the way. Do the turbos work on Glacier Girl?

The blower system in the Corsairs had 2 sets of blowers. The main engine core on a R-2800B had the cranckcase, cylinders and a single stage blower. You had a variety of nosecases with different gearing that could be bolted on and also a variety of accessory cases. Some had a 2 speed blower in them as was used on the early Corsairs. That is the blower that is often disabled or eliminated by changing to a -79 or 2800 used in the A-26 with only the single stage blower.
The other fun thing with a stock early Corsair is that the updraft carb is prone to belching some fuel on start up which can lead to exciting moments when a fire develops. There is a certain sound that you hear when that happens- like a whomph. I would usually here it a second before the engine would start to run. That is why a change to the -79 with its downdraft carb is popular.
Rich

[Chris]

"Sentimental Journey" uses them every time on takeoff and landings

[Django]

So in a related question (says the non pilot... ) what is the max altitude allowed for operators? If one has the functional equipment are you even allowed at that altitude?

[gilt]

FYI-

Further to Rich's comment about the 1340 to my knowledge every radial from the P&W R-985 and Wright R-975 up has an internal supercharger that is required for even fuel/air distribution if not altitude capability. In fact some of the smaller radials came in sea level or altitude versions depending on aircraft mission, similar to the two stage superchager on the larger radials. The BT-13 had a sea level 985 and the Beech 18 had an altitude version with a different impeller.

Tom-

[Matt_in_NC]

Thank you guys so much for all the information. I knew that the A-26 engine was a common modification for Corsairs, but I didn't know why. It is interesting also to see which aircraft still have these wartime systems operable. Seems like a lot of the -17s still have their turbos in working order. I wonder how many flying warbirds could actually match the performance of their wartime ancesters (brothers). Some could probably exceed it with the weight reductions, but at altitude? top speed? I wonder... as long as they're flying though...all that matters to me!!!