turbo-superchargers - still used?

[pjpahs]

Just thinking about if warbirds currently flying and were originally equipped with turbo-supercharger are in fact still using the turbo's ? I searched the WIX history and found where FIFI had twin turbo superchargers but were deleted from the new engines. Using the engine mechanical superchargers must do the job it's doing now, no bomb load,no guns or ammo and enough fuel to do the task at hand. Collings Witchcraft and 909 have the turbo exhausts but when I rode in them I didn't know if they were used. So are any being used?

[Dan K]

P-38 "Ruff Stuff"...hear the whistle:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6wHblArFfA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlBztjelda0

Last edited by Dan K on Tue Nov 15, 2011 7:37 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[John Dupre]

I know that the Collings Foundation Liberator and Flying Fortress had operational turbo chargers and I used to do some volunteer work alongside a former GE employee who overhauled them for Collings. I haven't heard that the policy has changed.

[K5DH]

I know that the Collings Foundation Liberator and Flying Fortress had operational turbo chargers and I used to do some volunteer work alongside a former GE employee who overhauled them for Collings. I haven't heard that the policy has changed.

9-0-9's turbochargers are not functional, but the B-24's are.

B-17 Chuckie has operational turbos, and I think one other does also. That's it.

[Chris]

Sentimental Journey uses turbos but not not all the time anymore.

[Matt_in_NC]

Does Glacier Girl have turbos? I don't know if the 'F' model had them on there or not, but as "stock" as that restoration was said to be, it'd surprise me if they weren't operational if present.

[airnutz]

but as "stock" as that restoration was said to be, it'd surprise me if they weren't operational if present.

I was surprised when I read they were not operational...I wondered if Mr. Lewis is going to continue with that?

[Matt_in_NC]

Interesting...My guess is that they are not needed for normal flight operations and would add a decent amount of complexity to the maintenance...I'm guessing they're present, just not functional.

[RandolphB]

The Red Bull (ex- White Lightening) P-38 had operational superchargers on it when it went to Nellis before being shipped overseas...

[wingman1]

The Red Bull (ex- White Lightening) P-38 had operational superchargers on it when it went to Nellis before being shipped overseas...

turbo-superchargers, on a Red Bull P-38?

they is a joke in there somewhere.

[Steve Nelson]

When I talked to a mechanic on Fifi about ten years ago, he said that the turbo housings and piping were still in place, but the guts had been removed (obviously this was with the old engines.) With the light loads and low altitudes at which she flies, they're not really necessary. The gentleman also pointed to one of the flaps, which had a number of sheet metal patches behind one engine..a legacy of when a turbosupercharger compressor had disintegrated in flight at some point in her military career.

SN

[b29flteng]

In regards to FIFI, the turbos were removed many years ago, all that's left are the housings. We don't pressurize or fly above 12,000 feet so we don't need them. The old engines could develop 30+ inches of manifold pressure at 12,000 feet, I haven't flown that high with the new engines so I can't say what they develop at 12,000 feet. The internal superchargers are more than enough.

[mike furline]

Some P-47's have/had them operational.

http://www.warbirdinformationexchange.o ... hp?p=52478

[airnutz]

The Red Bull (ex- White Lightening) P-38 had operational superchargers on it when it went to Nellis before being shipped overseas...

...But no turbos if I remember correctly. Unfortunately, those parts of the Ezell build photos are no longer available to check out.