[Milsurplus] Re: Milsurplus Digest, O/T (sorta): DEDICATED TO ALL THOSE WHO FLEW BEHIND ROUND ENGINES

[Brooke Clarke]

Hi:

The local California Department of Forestry uses the Grumman S2 for 
Borate bombing and they have radial engines.  There's no mistaking the 
sound when they fly over.  These are very well maintained, you could eat 
off the engine, not a spot of oil anywhere.  They plan on replacing the 
radials with turbines in the future.

I once saw an A-1 at Moffett Field at an air show.  A triple (3 x 9 - 27 
cylinders) pancake engine, now that's something.

Have Fun,

Brooke Clarke

w/Java http://www.PRC68.com
w/o Java http://www.pacificsites.com/~brooke/PRC68COM.shtml
http://www.precisionclock.com

>Date: Fri, 24 Nov 2006 20:09:55 -0600
>From: "D C *Mac* Macdonald" <k2gkk at hotmail.com>
>Subject: [Milsurplus] O/T (sorta): DEDICATED TO ALL THOSE WHO FLEW
>	BEHIND	ROUND ENGINES
>To: arc5 at mailman.qth.net, milsurplus at mailman.qth.net
>Message-ID: <BAY103-F290B7A2260F2335846AEB7F1E00 at phx.gbl>
>Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed
>
>
>DEDICATED TO ALL THOSE WHO FLEW BEHIND ROUND ENGINES
>
>We  gotta get rid of those turbines; they're ruining aviation
>and our  hearing ... A turbine is too simple minded, it has
>no mystery. The air  travels through it in a straight line
>and doesn't pick up any of the  pungent fragrance of engine
>oil or pilot  sweat.
>
>Anybody can start a turbine. You just need to move a  switch
>from "OFF" to "START" and then remember to move it back  to
>"ON" after a while. My PC is harder to  start.
>
>Cranking a round engine requires skill, finesse and  style.
>You have to seduce it into starting. It's like waking up  a
>horny mistress. On some planes, the pilots aren't  even
>allowed to do it..
>
>Turbines start by whining  for a while, then give a
>lady-like poof and start whining a little  louder.
>
>Round engines give a satisfying rattle-rattle,  click-click,
>BANG, more rattles, another BANG, a big macho FART or
>two, more  clicks, a lot more smoke and finally a serious
>low pitched roar. We  like that. It's a GUY thing...
>
>When you start a round engine,  your mind is engaged and you
>can concentrate on the flight ahead.  Starting a turbine
>is like flicking on a ceiling fan: Useful, but,  hardly
>exciting.
>
>When you have started his round  engine successfully your
>Crew Chief looks up at you like he'd let you  kiss his girl , too!
>
>Turbines don't break or catch fire often enough, which leads
>to  aircrew boredom, complacency and inattention. A round
>engine at speed  looks and sounds like it's going to blow
>any minute. This helps  concentrate the mind!
>
>Turbines don't have enough control  levers or gauges to keep
>a pilot's attention. There's nothing to fiddle  with during
>long flights.
>
>Turbines smell like a Boy  Scout camp full of Coleman Lamps.
>Round engines smell like God intended  machines to smell.
>
>Pass this on to an old Round Engine guy  (or his son, or
>anyone who flew them) in remembrance of that  "Greatest
>Generation".
>
>
>  
>