ME 262 Project

[katiegdaisy]

I've done some thinking about the authenticity about Warbirds and etc. And I don't think I agree with the purpose behind the ME 262 Project--putting modern engines in a replicated shell?? Isn't is far superior to have original and genuine everything?

I just think that it cheapens and takes away from authentic Warbirds because then people become content with less than adequate quality.

What do you think?

[k5083]

In my business we have a saying, "Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good."

August

[Jack Cook]

Isn't is far superior to have original and genuine everything?

I think the original engines would be good enough to take you to the scene of the crash

[mkxiv]

Safety, Reliability, and maintainability. I think these are very important if you actually want to have a flyable warbird.

[katiegdaisy]

I agree with safety and reliability, but if it manages to be approved by the FAA for flight, is that not adequate (and better)?

Regardless, the original engines had a good 20 hours of flight time before needing to be rehauled. That is not nothing.

[Hawkeye]

Sorry but with that kind of attitude and thinking we would never have any rare types in the air, simply because we didnt have the original powerplant. We wouldnt have the 262s, the Flug-Werk 190s, or how about the dozens and dozens of WW1 replicas flying around? We wouldnt have any of those if the builders said "darn, I cant find a LeRhone rotary or Mercedes or BMW engine for my project, suppose i'd better give up right now." Better to have them flying with a non-original powerplant than not flying or never even built at all.

EDIT: 20 hours? would you seriously want to have to overhaul your engines every 20 hours? Not to mention the hassle, but the sheer monetary cost of doing it, would deter just about everyone who wasnt a multi-millionaire.

[Jack Cook]

Note to self....................
Self open Jumo overhaul facility

[hercules130]

Flying with original engines would be a case of when and not if one was going to quit, and how long before it destroys a machine and most importantly the man inside.

As for the overhaul at 20 hours, Col Watson operating with the advice of Me Test pilots and Engineers while operating with considerably more care and maintenance then could have ever been afforded Luftwaffe line fliers, not to mention fuel quality, and pilot experience was only able to get 15-18 hours out of a motor. Even this tiny amount was 33-35% more than the operational units could manage. All this aside assuming the 20 hours was a valid time limit, it was not really for overhaul or rebuild time, due to inferior metals in the blades, tie rod, burner, and THE CASE the engine life; not over haul time was limited to "20" hours.

The new engines are embedded in the 004 look a like cases for two reasons one is for cosmetic value the other is to solve weight and balance issues. While a Jumo powered Schwalbe would be fantastic it is really out of the scope of reality and safety.

[Hawkeye]

Actually, I'm curious now as to how well a new-build Jumo 004 would perform, considering that the reliability of originals was severely affected by intentional sloppy construction and sabotage on the part of the slave labour construction force. (and inferior wartime materials)

[Ztex]

The original 004A motors with all the good metal would run @ 200 hours Yahoo!

http://www.stormbirds.com/project/technical/technical_3.htm

[bdk]

Wasn't FHC remanufacturing the original Jumos for longer life?

[Michel Lemieux]

Wasn't FHC remanufacturing the original Jumos for longer life?

Heard the same Brandon. With new turbine blades & main bearings using modern alloys.

[b29flteng]

$$$$$$$$$$ On FIFI, using original engines, we were lucky to get 100 hrs. on an engine, the lowest I think was 4 hours. At $160,000 + for an overhaul, we can't fly much without a truck load of $$$$$$$. If it's going to be a static display, go ahead and keep the original type engine, but don't compromise safety on a flyer.

[gary1954]

Isn't is far superior to have original and genuine everything?

I think the original engines would be good enough to take you to the scene of the crash

Jack, That is an excellent theory, and more than likely True. Nothing wrong with replacing with new stuff in the "shell" as it is done on a regulare basis...Look at the new Nav/Com equipment that goes into warbirds, Honestly, I'd rather see an all original Instrument panel in a warbird, but ya gotta fly safe and some of these birds do a lot of flying, and ya just gatta trade off a little. As for the 262, the engines are wrapped up like an En-Cha-Lotta so what difference does it make.

[JägerMarty]

I've done some thinking about the authenticity about Warbirds and etc. And I don't think I agree with the purpose behind the ME 262 Project--putting modern engines in a replicated shell?? Isn't is far superior to have original and genuine everything?

I just think that it cheapens and takes away from authentic Warbirds because then people become content with less than adequate quality.

What do you think?

great first post, LOL