Thread: Oil consumption (history)

Originally Posted by byron

I didn't know you could get air certification for a 2 stroke!

Of course you can. (e.g. Junkers diesel) But the Gipsy Major is not a two stroke - just not very good oil control - and leaks oil worse than a Landrover.

John

G'day John

Those big US built P&W and Wright Radials were pretty good at leaking oil, and they, as well as most radials need to be turned over by hand to stop them hydraulicing on the lower cylinders and when they fire up there is huge clouds of blue smoke, but without them the commercial airline existence and the outcome of WW11 would be undoubtfuuly different

cheers

Originally Posted by UncleHo

G'day John

Those big US built P&W and Wright Radials were pretty good at leaking oil, and they, as well as most radials need to be turned over by hand to stop them hydraulicing on the lower cylinders and when they fire up there is huge clouds of blue smoke, but without them the commercial airline existence and the outcome of WW11 would be undoubtfuuly different

cheers

Yes - same with the Gipsy major - if it has been standing for more than a few hours, turn over by hand first - and when started, particularly if it has been standing for a few weeks, wait for a few minutes until you can see through the smoke before starting to taxi!

John

G'day John

Yeah, don't think that the modern Rotax's or the flat motors have that endearing character but nor do the have that wonderfull sound of the Gypsy or of a big lazy radial in a single or a twin.

I live not far to the East of Caboolture airfield and Moths and Wirraways are regulary flying over, there are about 8 Moths resident at the field.
and that beautifully restored DeHaviland Dragon with the occasional over fly of a Caribou, those things still look like they are flying backwards in a headwind

cheers

The turbo-compound Wrights used in Constellations were the loudest piston engine I ever heard. Made an absolutely shattering all-pervading din. My uncle Rowley had racing stables in Hendra, Brisbane, right opposite the end of the long runway. The Connies would be positioned for take-off with their rearmost wheels right on the edge of the bitumen and their tails sticking out over the fence. They would be run up to full power against the brakes before trundling off down the runway and seemingly ever so slowly rise into the air and gradually climb. Not like todays jets with their accelleration and rapid steep climb. Whilst warming and running up. my uncles house and stables would vibrate and shake, and the noise and vibration was painful.

Originally Posted by Brian Hjelm

The turbo-compound Wrights used in Constellations were the loudest piston engine I ever heard. Made an absolutely shattering all-pervading din. My uncle Rowley had racing stables in Hendra, Brisbane, right opposite the end of the long runway. The Connies would be positioned for take-off with their rearmost wheels right on the edge of the bitumen and their tails sticking out over the fence. They would be run up to full power against the brakes before trundling off down the runway and seemingly ever so slowly rise into the air and gradually climb. Not like todays jets with their accelleration and rapid steep climb. Whilst warming and running up. my uncles house and stables would vibrate and shake, and the noise and vibration was painful.

There's a Super Connie flying out of Nowra. I've seen it fly overhead a few times when I'vbe been down the coast. http://www.hars.org.au/fleet/constellation/index.html

Ron

Ron

Originally Posted by Brian Hjelm

....... Not like todays jets with their accelleration and rapid steep climb. ..........

You haven't been on a fully loaded 747 leaving Singapore for London on a hot, humid, still day! Before the nose lifts you have time to wonder if the island is big enough for the takeoff run.

Interesting note on oil consumption - the Rolls-Royce R engine was developed for the Schneider Trophy races in the late twenties. During development the oil consumption was reduced (with great difficulty) from 112 gallons/hr to 14, but rising to 28 during the race. Probably not unreasonable for 2783hp at 3400rpm from 36litres and 13psi boost, on 60% methanol, 30% benzol and 10% acetone plus a lot of lead on a one hour test run.

John

About the time I was in Primary School (the middle of last century) there was a fairly widely held belief, especially amongst school boys who thought they knew everything there was to know about everything, that using some oil was a good sign.
I think the theory was that a bit of oil had to make it past the oil rings to make sure the compression rings didn't wear out.
Does anyone know whether that was actually true at the time with the existing technology or was that just some sort of schoolboy mythology? Or was it a rumour spread by manufacturers who didn't know at the time how to reduce oil consumption?