enginehistory.org

rwahlgren · Joined: 15 Aug 2003 Posts: 323

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbMgwDIdScY

kmccutcheon · Posted: Sun Nov 19, 2023 05:37 Post subject:

Thanks for posting that.
I like Greg's work; he presents things in context and does a good job of explaining complex topics.
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Kimble D. McCutcheon

tspath · Joined: 14 May 2019 Posts: 1

Yes, indeed this engine was pretty much the pinnacle of aviation piston engine development. I learned on them in A&P school in the 1970?s. When I worked at Rockwell International Space Division one of my senior acquaintances had worked at Wright during WWII on the TC18.

IIRC DC7?s and Connies with TC18?s achieved fuel economy (~100 seat miles per gallon) that wasn?t equaled until the B777.

The downside may have been reliability, though. I had another senior acquaintance in the 1970?s who was a retired FE from TWA. He told me that he averaged one shut down every 300 hours.