Warbird Information Exchange

While reading a recently acquired book, I ran across the story of this somewhat rare aircraft. I'm posting this just for fun for others stuck at home. Randy

What a beauty....the Napier-Heston Racer...

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He bowls overhand...He is the most interesting man in the world.
"In Peace Japan Breeds War", Eckstein, Harper and Bros., 3rd ed. 1943(1927, 1928,1942)
"Leave it to ol' Slim. I got ideas...and they're all vile, baby." South Dakota Slim
"Ahh..."The Deuce", 28,000 pounds of motherly love." quote from some Mojave Grunt
DBF

Correct Sir. Also known as the Heston Type 5 and powered by an early version of the Napier-Halford Sabre engine. On its first flight on 12 June 1940, the engine overheated and the aircraft suffered from a very rough landing and was a write off. The book is "Wolseley Radial Engines; Lord Nuffield's Thwarted Venture" by Peter Seymour. There is more info available on the web, too.

Randy

P. S. Here is a link to the accident report:
https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/206290

How about an engine? It also has an interesting story. Yes, it is partly cut away for display. Randy

ABC Dragonfly!

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

Correct Dan! Would you care to share the "significance" of the engine in the closing months of the First World War? If not, I will in a bit. Trying to see if anyone enjoys these kind of posts or not. Obviously, I have a lot of time on my hands these days.

Randy

Well, if Germany had held out for a few more months, the Dragonfly would've probably won the air war for them!



Here's one back at you.

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

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“PMURT KCUF”

Dan K - I got sidetracked for a bit on another research matter but honestly, the engine you posted back is a bit of a puzzle. The poultice head design look British but the contraption on the front is rather odd. Any chance it is some type of early variable pitch propeller mechanism? Ya got me. Thanks.

Randy

Here's a hint: "Packard diesel"

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

Do I still win if you gave most of the answer?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Packard_DR-980

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OK, good one. Here is the image I found of the Packard DR-980 in my library, and I'd still like to know about the spiral tubing in your image. This is from "Diesel Aviation Engines" by Paul H. Wilkinson, 1942, 92 pages, which seems to be the emasculated version of his earlier "Aircraft Diesels", 1940, 275 pages, without all the details of the German diesels in the earlier version. And as for winners and a prize, I seem to remember a post some years ago about a pony Thanks all for the fun.

Randy

Ah! A "spiral oil cooler" in later versions. Got it. Randy

Wow, the shape of the Napier-Heston racer is so Art Deco. Gorgeous! Wouldn't it be cool to have a class of aircraft from this era running around the pylons at Reno?

Art Deco indeed...Me209, Curtiss XP-37, Stanzel Tiger Shark, Gee Bee Z, and many pulp comic airplane designs of the day. Incidentally the Napier Heston Racer was a fine wrapping, tho tragic, debut of the lovely Napier Sabre.

_________________
He bowls overhand...He is the most interesting man in the world.
"In Peace Japan Breeds War", Eckstein, Harper and Bros., 3rd ed. 1943(1927, 1928,1942)
"Leave it to ol' Slim. I got ideas...and they're all vile, baby." South Dakota Slim
"Ahh..."The Deuce", 28,000 pounds of motherly love." quote from some Mojave Grunt
DBF