When Grandpa Starts His Merlin V-12 Engine That Won WWII
- Thread starter BlueOvalFitter
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Interesting page you linked to.
OK, for any WWII history folks here--what made it "responsible" for the Allied air superiority? Did this engine allow Allied craft a greater range for bombers than they otherwise would have had? Did it let the planes fly faster?
I just watched the mega project video, embedded in the link above. Towards the end, he said that the planes it powered flew higher and faster than others, and that this engine was very reliable. I suppose that is the answer to my question. Does anyone know?
If they made 170,000 of these engines, it must have had something going for it.
OK, for any WWII history folks here--what made it "responsible" for the Allied air superiority? Did this engine allow Allied craft a greater range for bombers than they otherwise would have had? Did it let the planes fly faster?
I just watched the mega project video, embedded in the link above. Towards the end, he said that the planes it powered flew higher and faster than others, and that this engine was very reliable. I suppose that is the answer to my question. Does anyone know?
If they made 170,000 of these engines, it must have had something going for it.
If he did, do you think Germany would be safe today? Yeahhhhhh, probably.........
Well, it must have been special. It replaced the original P-51 Mustang engine and made it far more superior.
Did anyone else watch the Jay Leno video in this link? What an awesome vehicle they built around this BEAST of an engine!
The Merlin engine was used in the Spitfire (still considered one of the best fighters ever), the Mosquito (fastest fighter bomber of it's time - which could outrun any German fighter), the Lancaster bomber (RR and Packard Merlins, carried heaviest bomb load in WWII) and the Mustang (Packard Merlins, which with drop tanks made daylight bombing of Germany possible). The Merlin was reliable and powerful. And that's only a few of the high points.
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Able to churn out alot of engines, reliable, and well balanced. Many other planes were good at one thing but not decent at another. Pretty sure these were used in spitfire fighter interceptors and the p51 mustang.
they were used in tanks too, they got a lot of hp and torque.
The two-stage supercharged Merlin had an advantage in altitude performance over most engines.
Spitfires and Hurricanes running on high-octane fuel were able to scramble off the ground and rapidly gain altitude to intercept German bombers to win the Battle of Britain.
The two-stage Merlin in the P-51 Mustang had the range and altitude performance necessary to escort bombers all the way to the target and to engage German interceptors successfully.
Merlins were time-consuming to build, and many shadow factories in England were necessary to meet demand. When Packard started building them under license in the USA, they started by redesigning the engine to conform to American mass-production techniques. Packard was able to build them more quickly than was Rolls-Royce.
Spitfires and Hurricanes running on high-octane fuel were able to scramble off the ground and rapidly gain altitude to intercept German bombers to win the Battle of Britain.
The two-stage Merlin in the P-51 Mustang had the range and altitude performance necessary to escort bombers all the way to the target and to engage German interceptors successfully.
Merlins were time-consuming to build, and many shadow factories in England were necessary to meet demand. When Packard started building them under license in the USA, they started by redesigning the engine to conform to American mass-production techniques. Packard was able to build them more quickly than was Rolls-Royce.
While maintaining the machining tolerances and precision required.
Rolls selected Packard with good reason.
The 2-stage, 2-speed Merlins allowed Mustangs to cruise faster at higher altitudes, which contributed to long range mission. It also allowed them to fight at high altitudes where their turbocharged bombers operated. Allison powered Mustangs also flew long missions, but at lower level where the denser air reduced cruise speed at critical altitude and hence somewhat shorter range. So, while the Mustang was the most aerodynamic fighter of the war, the Merlin allowed it to capitalize that advantage at high altitude.
My father flew most versions of the Merlin Spitfire and it was without a doubt the most pilot friendly, manouverable fighter. Far better than the old Hurricanes.
My father flew most versions of the Merlin Spitfire and it was without a doubt the most pilot friendly, manouverable fighter. Far better than the old Hurricanes.
All in all the P51 looks aggressive and you feel aggressive flying
one... after I logged 2.3 hours in a razor back Mustang and I confess
the flowing lines coupled with sound of the Packard Merlin and the
thrust of the 4 bladed Hamilton Standard propeller this whole package
is a mind altering experience...
My video of the Collings Foundation P51C Betty Jane among a gaggle of B25 B24
B17 from McClellan AFB to Minden Nevada...
one... after I logged 2.3 hours in a razor back Mustang and I confess
the flowing lines coupled with sound of the Packard Merlin and the
thrust of the 4 bladed Hamilton Standard propeller this whole package
is a mind altering experience...
My video of the Collings Foundation P51C Betty Jane among a gaggle of B25 B24
B17 from McClellan AFB to Minden Nevada...
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