Radial Engine fished out of the drink off the coast of India
Mon May 11, 2009 8:20 am
Any guesses as to what they found?
Kochi: Wreckage of a fixed-wing aircraft, presumably of the 1940 vintage, got trapped in a fishing net off the Beypore coast on Thursday night. Fishermen who netted the debris handed it over to the Munambam police and soon, the Navy was informed.
Navy takes possession
A Navy helicopter took some photographs of the object for investigation. The Navy took possession of it on Friday evening.
“On preliminary inspection, it appears to be the front housing of a fixed-wing aircraft engine,” said Navy sources. “It looks like over 50 years old in any case. That apart, we are still trying to identify the type of aircraft that had this sort of engine housing. It could also be that this dated back to World War II.”
Found it here:
http://www.hindu.com/2009/05/09/stories ... 342000.htm
Mon May 11, 2009 8:42 am
??????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!!!
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!!!
Re: Radial Engine fished out of the drink off the coast of I
Mon May 11, 2009 9:52 am
[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.
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.
Mon May 11, 2009 9:57 am
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
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
Mon May 11, 2009 10:54 am
3350?
Prop
Mon May 11, 2009 10:57 am
Anyone concur that it was a 3-bladed prop?
Re: Prop
Mon May 11, 2009 11:46 am
DryMartini wrote:
Anyone concur that it was a 3-bladed prop?
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
Mon May 11, 2009 1:46 pm
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-
Looks pretty much like an 1820 from here, I agree I'd like to see some side and rear photos too-
Mon May 11, 2009 2:26 pm
Hey, get TIGHAR on the phone, I think we found more of that shoe! 
Mon May 11, 2009 3:03 pm
Jesse C. wrote:Hey, get TIGHAR on the phone, I think we found more of that shoe!
Crabs walked off with the entire reduction gear.
Mon May 11, 2009 9:16 pm
Dan K wrote:Jesse C. wrote:Hey, get TIGHAR on the phone, I think we found more of that shoe!
Crabs walked off with the entire reduction gear.
darn those RAF guys....
Mon May 11, 2009 9:27 pm
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.
Tue May 12, 2009 1:27 am
Def not a B25...
Tue May 12, 2009 2:42 am
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.
Wow, I guess they've never seen an engine like that before.
Front housing? Daaa thats whats missing.
Wed May 13, 2009 4:46 pm
Ugh. What's that standing next to it? Looks like Mr Bean in a pink skirt! Is the engine even American for certain?