Warbird Information Exchange

Any guesses as to what they found?



Found it here:
http://www.hindu.com/2009/05/09/stories ... 342000.htm

??????front housing of a fixed-wing aircraft engine??????

Well at least they didn't say, "Part of a UFO", which would actually be more accurate then their statement!!!! It is unidentified, and it was a flying object!

Gotta love the press!!!

[quote="Warbirdnerd"]

Any guesses as to what they found?

It is at least a 9 cylinder engine ( example R-1820) and maybe 18 cylider (example R-2800). It cannot be an R-1830 which was 14 cylinders. It is hard to see if there is a second row of cylinders. The reduction gear case on the nose is completely gone which means it was probably magnesium. The large projection at the front is the propeller hub. There are stubs of blades poking out of the hub. Maybe the blades were cut off? Maybe the blades were wood and all that is left is a steel hub to connect the blades to the pitch change mechanism? I think the outer dome of the propeller hub is gone and what you see is an inner piston.

A real expert could probably tell by the angle of the push rod shrouds just what engine it is.

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"I can't understand it, I cut it twice and it's still too short!" Robert F. Dupre' 1923-2010 Go With God.

You're on the right track, John. The aluminum prop blades are just completely gone. What you're seeing protruding from the hub is the ends of the steel "spider" that the blades slide onto during assembly. And as you guessed, the outer dome (also aluminum) is gone and all that remains are the steel pieces inside.

Without more detailed pictures, its difficult (at least for me) to determine just what kind of engine it is, but you're definitely doing some good detective work.

Gary

3350?

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Those who possess real knowledge are rare.

Those who can set that knowledge into motion in the physical world are rarer still.

The few who possess real knowledge and can set it into motion of their own hands are the rarest of all.

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-Bill
B-17E 41-2595 "Desert Rat" Restoration Team

Looks that way to me.

I'd sure like to see the back side of the engine (what's left of it), or at least a side view.

Gary

And, if you were a police clerk who knew zero about airplanes but had to file a report on this engine being fished out of a lake in Minnesota in the Mumbai TIMES, how good would your English to Hindi translating skills be? Remember the last time you called TECH SUPPORT and talked with 'Clive' who spoke wonderful English but not American coloquial English?
Looks pretty much like an 1820 from here, I agree I'd like to see some side and rear photos too-

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Don't make me go get my flying monkeys-

Hey, get TIGHAR on the phone, I think we found more of that shoe!

Crabs walked off with the entire reduction gear.

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It was a good idea, it just didn't work.

darn those RAF guys....

_________________
Those who possess real knowledge are rare.

Those who can set that knowledge into motion in the physical world are rarer still.

The few who possess real knowledge and can set it into motion of their own hands are the rarest of all.

I as well see something with 3 props, maybe off a C-47, 46, B-25, or a B-24....Think that these aircraft operated out of that area...I knew that the B-24s and C-47s were there 'casue my grand dad flew 'em out of India, not sure where though.

Def not a B25...

_________________
Those who possess real knowledge are rare.

Those who can set that knowledge into motion in the physical world are rarer still.

The few who possess real knowledge and can set it into motion of their own hands are the rarest of all.

Gosh I guess you don't really need to use perservative lubes, just a little corrosion here and there, and a few missing parts. And it still looks like a radial engine. Wonder how long its been in the drink? First to go is all the magnesium parts. Mag hates salt water.

Wow, I guess they've never seen an engine like that before.
Front housing? Daaa thats whats missing.

Ugh. What's that standing next to it? Looks like Mr Bean in a pink skirt! Is the engine even American for certain?