Warbird Information Exchange

Thanks all, there is a lot to tech. knowledge in this group.....I need some help...what does IMHO stand for? And the CB designation??? I don't plan on getting these -71 engines running...just for static...but I do need to be sure that the cowlings and nose ring will fit for the Harpoon, befor I purchase them.....I should be getting some pictures of the -71 in the next day or so, then I can compare the cylinders etc....Anything else I may be forgetting? I am pretty sure that the engines will mount on the Harpoon eng. mount....Anybody got any exhaust stacks laying around..(non-airworth) Thanks again people!. Gary

I just found an original R2800 overhaul/ training manual today in my FIL's stuff. I will probably get my daughter to scan it into a .pdf at some stage.

B

It would be interesting to dig in the FAA/CAA archives on the R-2800's. From what I can get from the FAA site, the -32 was never certified and National didn't get any STC's or TC's for the -32. They did get a couple of STC's for mods to the cranks, dampers, oil pump housings and push rod tubes. on several other versions.
As for non-military usage, it was probably done on a onesy-twosey basis and not certified as the F4U-5 series were the only installation of the -32W that I can find any reference to, and they only built something like 225 of them. A search of the FAA database comes up completely blank when you search on the -32. I would belive that more conversion work was done using the -34 from the Bearcat, as those engines were based on the DW-E series. I wonder where the guy in the AAHS article got the info on National? You'd think that if the database had some of National's STC's, then it would have all of them.... As you stated, there is always the possibility that some of the records were lost or destroyed.

Inquiring minds want to know!

Gary: P&W built the R-2800 under two different designation systems. The engines that were primarily designed for civil use were designated under the Double Wasp system as B,C, CA,or CB series engines. The military designed and derived engines were under the R-2800-XXxx designators. I've got some P&W stuff at mom and dad's and I'll see if I can grab it this weekend when we are up there.

IMHO- In My Humble Opinion
AFAIK-As Far As I Know
BTDT- Been There-Done That
and so on ad nauseum

Have fun...

Inquiring mind, The article I quoted about the conversion of R-2800-32Ws to CB16 specs was written by the shop foreman of National Aircraft Sales Tony Bovinich. I have also seen a reference of R-2800-50s removed from helicopters and converted to CB-16s. Graham White in his book on the r-2800 gives a production number of 818 for the r-2800-32w. A few years ago a saw a r-280032w for sale on e -bay.

I stopped in Rantoul, Ks. yesterday, and had the good fortune to meet Bill Dempsey...amazing guy....he questioned me about the -71 engine...he said he didn't recognise the designation..thought the designation for the B-26 (Douglas) was a -79?? Anyway, he said the only difference was the nose case, or actually the gear ratio...16/9 for the -31.... and that the -79 used the GE mags...I shouldn't have any problems with the static convert......He still has the heavy hardware in his back yard, also has a Loadstar....gary

Invaders used -27, -71 and -79 engines, depending on when the aircraft was produced. The last 535 had the -79's with water injection.

The YB-26K used -103W's and the production aircraft used -52W's