gazfast
Distinguished
jitpublisher :
Holy cow there are a few bad assumptions up there a ways^
The large engines in ships rotate very, very slowly. The parts are simply to big, if you spun a engine that big at 4000rpm it would explode like a bomb. Diesel and large truck engines run much slower than their smaller gas counterparts. How smooth an engine runs is NOTHING to do with how big it is. Those huge ship engines make a lot of noise, but they are amoung the "smoothest" running engines in the world. But indeed 1 thing they do supply is just an amazing amount of torque.
The spitfire, and many older planes, used Radial engines. Pistion engines with the cylinders configured in a circle around the crankshaft. They are air cooled, and each cylinder needs direct exposure to the incoming air, or it would literally melt in a short time.
The large engines in ships rotate very, very slowly. The parts are simply to big, if you spun a engine that big at 4000rpm it would explode like a bomb. Diesel and large truck engines run much slower than their smaller gas counterparts. How smooth an engine runs is NOTHING to do with how big it is. Those huge ship engines make a lot of noise, but they are amoung the "smoothest" running engines in the world. But indeed 1 thing they do supply is just an amazing amount of torque.
The spitfire, and many older planes, used Radial engines. Pistion engines with the cylinders configured in a circle around the crankshaft. They are air cooled, and each cylinder needs direct exposure to the incoming air, or it would literally melt in a short time.
There seems to be a certain misconception about the Supremarine Spitfire on this thread.
Can I suggest we check this website: www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/detail.asp?aircraft_id=218 it has the specifications listed, including the powerplant, the Merlin V12 piston engine.
Sorry if I am harping on this one, but it is a little frustrating to see incorrect information.
Yes, the radial engine was popular, but primarily with American manufacturers, most European, ie German and British, used piston engines, such as the Junkers Jumo and Rolls Royce Merlin,which was also built inthe USA under licence by Packard as the Packard Merlin, and fitted to the P-51.
Possibly the best known radial-engined aircraft were the Thunderbolt fighter-bomber and the B17 Flying Fortress and B29 Superfortress bombers, although there were plenty of others.