Whirlwind

Read the forum code of contact

Member for

18 years 2 months

Posts: 1,107

hi all,

Ive been looking for sometime for a old engine , nothing as extravegant as a merlin,

Ive been looking for a radial, my best bet is to find one out of a old Whirlwind /sikorsky helicopter,

I approached portishead Painball park, to see if theres had a engine, they did look for me, and would have gladly let me have it, But theres was Missing,

the question I ask, is with such a abundance of whirlwinds all over the UK, and lots in Paintball Parks, I wondered if any of you out there, Knew where i could find a whilrwind that has a engine in it, that might be possible to take out and restore, have any of you seen any derelict whirlwinds with the engine still in Place ,in a paintball park, or back of a museum ??

i would be interested to know, and it might save a boat load of phone calls:rolleyes:

many thanks in anticipation,
CC:)

Original post

Member for

16 years 10 months

Posts: 3,214

dont fancy one of these then?

http://www.everettaero.com/gnome.html

:diablo:

i would have thought a gnome would be easier to come by than any of the old alvis engines, though the very early marks were powered by a wright cyclone... depends where you're prepared to go to get one i suppose :)

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 9,780

The Gnome engine has a higher value than a Leonides which was fitted to the Whirlwind HAS.7 amongst others. The Wright Cyclone powered Whirlwinds are now incredibly rare in the U.K and I doubt you will find one with an available engine.

Member for

18 years 2 months

Posts: 1,107

dont fancy one of these then?

http://www.everettaero.com/gnome.html

:diablo:

i would have thought a gnome would be easier to come by than any of the old alvis engines, though the very early marks were powered by a wright cyclone... depends where you're prepared to go to get one i suppose :)

ahh,
I thought it was the Wessex that was powered by the Gnome, Besides its a Gas turbine engine, and i know little about them, nice thought though,

yes the sikorsky S55 was powered by a Cyclone, (that would be a dream!!:D)

and the westland version powered by the Alvis, which from what i have been told is pretty much a copy of the american engine,

only reason i was chasing one was it seemed Whirlwinds are in abundance, and pretty much a forlorn bird, most paintball parks have them, if i had the room i would have a whole one, and it was a PISTON engine i was after, i would not mind any type, I would have thought the most common were these tpes, and maybe the Gypsy engine, But with lots of Tiggy Moth and Chipmunks flying, I imagine a Gypsy engine having quite a high Premium,
Merlins and powerplants of that size ,price wise are extremely expensive, and even the RR Metoer tank engine will cost a minimum of 2K , and the rest, I am left with very little options .

The one whirlwind in Portishead is actually a Sikorsky built S55, ex Danish airforce, but she is in a real mess, luminous green now by all acounts for all the shots fired at her , ;)

Member for

18 years 2 months

Posts: 1,107

The Gnome engine has a higher value than a Leonides which was fitted to the Whirlwind HAS.7 amongst others. The Wright Cyclone powered Whirlwinds are now incredibly rare in the U.K and I doubt you will find one with an available engine.

Well ive learned something today !!, I never realised Whirlwinds were powered by the Gnome !! :)

ahh, ****** so someones beat me to it :(
Years ago,:(

Is there ANY type of Piston engine out there that ISNT extremely hard to find ???.

Or should i start thnking about Morris Minors, ??, as a engine project , :)

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 9,780

The Alvis Leonides (both single and double row) are quite refined engines and not strictly speaking copies of the P&W engine. The basis of an engine being both valuable and rare is pretty much linked to the number in use .

Member for

18 years 2 months

Posts: 1,107

The Alvis Leonides (both single and double row) are quite refined engines and not strictly speaking copies of the P&W engine. The basis of an engine being both valuable and rare is pretty much linked to the number in use .

ahh well, I suppose ive been looking for years , so a few more wont harm me,
there is never a quick fix in this game, something will come along one day :)

I might try Barry Parkhouse, he might have something,

Its amazing how things have changed in the past few years, is it me but they seem to have flown by, in the mid 90s when my kids were small, and we struggled for pretty much everything there were quite a few engines about, I was offered a Hercules (bristol) at Flowers yard for £250, all them years ago,
but yet again, Council flat with no garden, I couldnt take it, yet again never had the 250 anyway, he did give me a horsa glider wheel for free though,after i worked so hard to get it :D.

I guess you all wonder what does this Merkle want ??? chasing this a that ,

well to tell you the truth, any project that is resonably managable in size, be it small cockpit, or engine, but if its a engine, i will want to get it running,

I know of a Gypsy in a peat bog, But this land is owned by the nature people, and i dont think they would allow diggers in to get it, a 1968 incident with a chipmunk, all bailed out so no fatalities,
But i am sure they would not allow a recovery, there funny even about people WALKING in that area.
and the farmer ,well he is the sort who would get his shot gun out :D

Member for

18 years 2 months

Posts: 1,107

i just was pondering, will we EVER see a whirlwind helicopter grace the skies of britain ever again, or are they in the history books for ever,??

just seems to me there are alot of airframes about, and as far as i am aware non will ever fly in the UK, is there a big safety problem with them??, or is it no ones got around to it yet ??

i just cant for the life of me think of one thats flying ? or at least airworthy ?

Member for

16 years 10 months

Posts: 3,214

G-BVGE "XJ729" (my signiature pic when we were at RIAT with her in 1995) currently in ireland last whirlygig to be flying (she still does)

Member for

18 years 2 months

Posts: 1,107

G-BVGE "XJ729" (my signiature pic when we were at RIAT with her in 1995) currently in ireland last whirlygig to be flying (she still does)

AHA there is one of them whirlygigs flying then, Thanks Nashio !!!, I can just about remember them when they were in service when i was a young Un !

i cant remember there engine note though,

will have to check on Youtube :D

Profile picture for user Phantom Phil

Member for

16 years 4 months

Posts: 1,067

Damn, got beaten to it, yet again :D

Member for

18 years 2 months

Posts: 1,107

just checked Youtube, its got next to sod all on it, 3 vids, and NONE with a REAL S55 or whirlwind in it, !, theres a Wessex, theres a MIl 4, and a flightsim game S55 in Marine colours, Sod all with a REAl whirlwind flying or starting up, I bet the old piston engine ones sound great on start up :D

Member for

18 years 2 months

Posts: 1,107

Damn, got beaten to it, yet again :D

still a nice pic though mate ;),

thanks

Member for

17 years 7 months

Posts: 1,444

If you are looking for a radial project I have a Cheetah crankcase and a few pots as a starter, you will stand more chance sourcing parts for one of these. it has history too

Member for

15 years 6 months

Posts: 253

If you are looking for a radial project I have a Cheetah crankcase and a few pots as a starter, you will stand more chance sourcing parts for one of these. it has history too


Hi,

I have a complete Cheetah propeller boss but it's back home in Australia!:)

cheers,

-John

Member for

18 years 2 months

Posts: 1,107

If you are looking for a radial project I have a Cheetah crankcase and a few pots as a starter, you will stand more chance sourcing parts for one of these. it has history too

PM Sent Mate ;)

Member for

16 years 10 months

Posts: 3,214

sure ive got some videos of the old girl somewhere, might be a good idea to try and get them onto dvd and onto the pc! i think ive got a video of her first startup in 1994 somewhere

Member for

18 years 2 months

Posts: 1,107

sure ive got some videos of the old girl somewhere, might be a good idea to try and get them onto dvd and onto the pc! i think ive got a video of her first startup in 1994 somewhere

would be great to see some on Youtube, or even your own website :D

Member for

16 years 10 months

Posts: 3,214

sadly enough, nothing to do with her anymore

I was just 6 in 1994 so didnt know much about what was going on, she used to be owned by a chap called brian austen, and was kept down in cricklade. i think they bought her from a scrapyard, with another whirlygig (i forget which serial) for about £12k... my dads friend john, spent the summer rebuilding her engine and servicing various components, though i believe she had had a major before being put up for sale.

I remember first seeing her, and being absolutely terrified at the prospect of flying in her (not quite knowing what it was :D)

had some great fun in her, went allover the place with dad "mini aircrew" or something to that effect.

she was sold to her current owner in the late 90's (1998?) and departed for ireland soon after, my father and his friend john (who serviced her and put her back in the air) were really rather sad to see her leave,

realistically, Id love to get her back in the country, with the help of my father and john who knows whats possible! certainly doesnt cost as much as a spitfire :D

Member for

17 years 6 months

Posts: 9,739

Ive been looking for a radial, my best bet is to find one out of a old Whirlwind /sikorsky helicopter...

Here you go:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Alvis-Leonides-9-cyl-aero-engine-NEW_W0QQitemZ200255804138QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item200255804138&_trkparms=72%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

Not much restoration required.....but it would be nice to get it running! :D