By: aeronut 2008
- 18th November 2008 at 21:59Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Here's a photo of a nose section on test in the Boscombe blower tunnel I'd bet Rocketeer would dearly love to have in his collection:diablo:[ATTACH]167086[/ATTACH]
Boscombe's Trials Officers were tough in them days.
By: 'D-Day'
- 19th November 2008 at 12:23Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
I held a spare pair of Derwent 9s from WD630 for my then Meteor WD592.
On sale of the a/c to the USA circa 1976 and the purchaser not requiring them, I sold both to Santa-Pod drag strip.
I am sure they did mount one on a bus or lorry type chassis for use as a track dryer and use it. ( Must have been expensive to run though??)
By: bri
- 20th November 2008 at 11:16Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
There's some great stuff in this post. I particularly liked the jet trains and, most of all, the twin jet scooter - you could probably fly over traffic jams with that one!
Another one for you. When we first got our Hercs in the RAAF, we also received some American GPUs (Ground Power Units) with a flat-six, air-cooled, Lycoming inside. They were well silenced, and could be moved around the tarmac using an integral electric drive system.
By: WL747
- 20th November 2008 at 11:17Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
A large building company located near me has (had?) a Griffon which it used to generate wind for 'proving' building structures. I have seen it once, from a distance, and iirc it was mounted on a 4 wheel trailer. it must sound mighty impressive when its fired up!
Aye, I've seen that one too, also on TV for testing one of the structures in Dubai (The Burj something or other, supposed to be tallest building in Dubai I think). Placed in front of a glass window, and let rip!!!!
By: D1566
- 20th November 2008 at 11:51Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Jet Engines mounted on a rail wagon were tried for clearing snow from the Brecon and Merthyr Railway line in 1947, apparently they were too successful in that they also blew the ballast away .....
By: Creaking Door
- 20th November 2008 at 13:44Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Not sure it is such an unusual use for aero-engines but many have been used to power tanks and other armoured vehicles.
The US M4 Sherman, M3 Lee/Grant, M3 Stuart (Honey) all carried Continental R-975 9-cylinder radial engines at some point (amongst other engines).
The British Cruiser III, Cruiser IV, Crusader, Centuar and Cavalier all used modified Liberty V-12 engines as did the World War One Mark VIII (Liberty) tank.
British Cromwell, Comet, Conqueror and Centurion tanks carried the Meteor V-12 engine based on some obscure aero-engine known as the Merlin (:diablo:). Centurion AVRE tanks fitted with the Meteor were certainly used during the first Gulf War in 1990-1991!
Even the horribly troublesome L60 engine used in the British Chieftain tank was a multi-fuel opposed-piston engine that bears a striking similarity to the Junkers Jumo 205 diesel aero-engine.
The Swedish S-Tank carried a gas-turbine in addition to a diesel engine and the current American M-1 Abrams tank has a gas-turbine as its only power source. The first tank to be powered by a gas-turbine though was probably a prototype British Conqueror but the engine selected for production was the well-tried Meteor.
By: battle_damaged
- 29th November 2008 at 13:55Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
I believe Creaking Door may be referring to the Tupolev TU-A, a pretty little sledge-type machine with contra-rotating propellers at the back. It was put to use in polar regions, and Interflug had one, if not two. I noted one in 1992 at the BSF (Berliner Spezialflug) base in Schoenefeld (photo to be unearthed yet!). I tried to get it to a museum (successful with a KA-26 and Mi-2) but someone with bigger bucks came along. Believe it's still in Germany somewhere. A landing craft as such with a non-submerged propeller I am unaware of.
I can add to the strange uses column and corroborate VX927's comments. A Hungarian firm was touting a fireblower at ILA Berlin in, I guess, 1992, with a Tumansky mounted on a tank. Bit late though, the Kuwaiti fires were all out by then.
Posts: 3,652
By: Flanker_man - 18th November 2008 at 20:40 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
The Russians still use the RD-45 (RR Nene) as a snow blower - I took this at Moscow's Bykovo airport in 2006......
Another at Myachkovo in 2004.....
IIRC, the US Railroad tried fitting twin J-47 turbojets from a B-47 to a train....
The Soviets also did it with jets from a Yak-40.......
More info here :- http://science.gallery.youngester.com/2008/07/jet-train.html
Ken
Posts: 1,528
By: aeronut 2008 - 18th November 2008 at 21:59 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Here's a photo of a nose section on test in the Boscombe blower tunnel I'd bet Rocketeer would dearly love to have in his collection:diablo:[ATTACH]167086[/ATTACH]
Boscombe's Trials Officers were tough in them days.
Posts: 2,766
By: John Aeroclub - 18th November 2008 at 22:05 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
SR 53?
John
Posts: 30
By: 'D-Day' - 19th November 2008 at 12:23 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
I held a spare pair of Derwent 9s from WD630 for my then Meteor WD592.
On sale of the a/c to the USA circa 1976 and the purchaser not requiring them, I sold both to Santa-Pod drag strip.
I am sure they did mount one on a bus or lorry type chassis for use as a track dryer and use it. ( Must have been expensive to run though??)
Mervyn
Posts: 1,578
By: Mondariz - 19th November 2008 at 15:13 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Although its not a full Merlin, this might qualify as unusual:
Posts: 1,713
By: Archer - 19th November 2008 at 18:54 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
You mean this sort of stuff:http://gizmodo.com/5090397/10-gadgets-that-have-no-business-using-a-jet-engine :D:D:eek:
Posts: 941
By: Resmoroh - 19th November 2008 at 19:00 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
The first one looks like the Turdis at RAF Stanley in 1982!! Who got which idea, when, and from whom??
HTH
Resmoroh
Posts: 278
By: Sonderman - 19th November 2008 at 21:34 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Another use of a pair of RR Griffons
http://www.itkypmantsje.com/
Regards,
Mathieu.
Posts: 388
By: bri - 20th November 2008 at 11:16 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
There's some great stuff in this post. I particularly liked the jet trains and, most of all, the twin jet scooter - you could probably fly over traffic jams with that one!
Another one for you. When we first got our Hercs in the RAAF, we also received some American GPUs (Ground Power Units) with a flat-six, air-cooled, Lycoming inside. They were well silenced, and could be moved around the tarmac using an integral electric drive system.
Bri :)
Posts: 462
By: WL747 - 20th November 2008 at 11:17 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Aye, I've seen that one too, also on TV for testing one of the structures in Dubai (The Burj something or other, supposed to be tallest building in Dubai I think). Placed in front of a glass window, and let rip!!!!
Pity they said it was from a WWII Lancaster.....
Posts: 2,024
By: D1566 - 20th November 2008 at 11:51 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Jet Engines mounted on a rail wagon were tried for clearing snow from the Brecon and Merthyr Railway line in 1947, apparently they were too successful in that they also blew the ballast away .....
Posts: 9,739
By: Creaking Door - 20th November 2008 at 13:44 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Not sure it is such an unusual use for aero-engines but many have been used to power tanks and other armoured vehicles.
The US M4 Sherman, M3 Lee/Grant, M3 Stuart (Honey) all carried Continental R-975 9-cylinder radial engines at some point (amongst other engines).
The British Cruiser III, Cruiser IV, Crusader, Centuar and Cavalier all used modified Liberty V-12 engines as did the World War One Mark VIII (Liberty) tank.
British Cromwell, Comet, Conqueror and Centurion tanks carried the Meteor V-12 engine based on some obscure aero-engine known as the Merlin (:diablo:). Centurion AVRE tanks fitted with the Meteor were certainly used during the first Gulf War in 1990-1991!
Even the horribly troublesome L60 engine used in the British Chieftain tank was a multi-fuel opposed-piston engine that bears a striking similarity to the Junkers Jumo 205 diesel aero-engine.
The Swedish S-Tank carried a gas-turbine in addition to a diesel engine and the current American M-1 Abrams tank has a gas-turbine as its only power source. The first tank to be powered by a gas-turbine though was probably a prototype British Conqueror but the engine selected for production was the well-tried Meteor.
Posts: 241
By: Adrian Barrell - 20th November 2008 at 16:13 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
A slight correction to your list, the M3 Stuart used the Continental W670 radial, a seven cylinder also used in LVTs.
Posts: 9,739
By: Creaking Door - 20th November 2008 at 16:15 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Yep, I knew I’d screw up somewhere.....you haven’t got an M3 Stuart have you? :)
Posts: 241
By: Adrian Barrell - 20th November 2008 at 16:21 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
No but I do have some engines! And some Meteors.....:D
Posts: 9,739
By: Creaking Door - 20th November 2008 at 16:28 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Does anybody know anything about the German landing-craft powered by aero-engines complete with aircraft propellers?
(Apart from the fact there is a mock-up of one in a scene from the Battle of Britain film!)
Posts: 178
By: battle_damaged - 29th November 2008 at 13:55 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
I believe Creaking Door may be referring to the Tupolev TU-A, a pretty little sledge-type machine with contra-rotating propellers at the back. It was put to use in polar regions, and Interflug had one, if not two. I noted one in 1992 at the BSF (Berliner Spezialflug) base in Schoenefeld (photo to be unearthed yet!). I tried to get it to a museum (successful with a KA-26 and Mi-2) but someone with bigger bucks came along. Believe it's still in Germany somewhere. A landing craft as such with a non-submerged propeller I am unaware of.
I can add to the strange uses column and corroborate VX927's comments. A Hungarian firm was touting a fireblower at ILA Berlin in, I guess, 1992, with a Tumansky mounted on a tank. Bit late though, the Kuwaiti fires were all out by then.
Here she blows:
Posts: 59
By: Stinky Pete - 29th November 2008 at 19:14 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Courtesy of Ray Deacon.....A Meteor snowblower at Kemble in the 1960's!
Posts: 10,029
By: Mark12 - 29th November 2008 at 19:36 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
The late Honourable Patrick Lindsay was reported to have a pencil sharpener powered by a Merlin Engine.
A good story. Can anybody confirm?
...and the Boremwood film studio wind machines. Ex Mosquito Merlins.
Mark
Posts: 178
By: battle_damaged - 29th November 2008 at 22:19 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
According to a list I have dated 3 Oct 1966 it could have been T7 WF826
rgds
Alan