The Lancaster started life in 1941 when the Mark I was developed from the ill-fated Manchester, and was fitted with four Merlin XX engines of 1,280 horsepower.
What engines did the Lancaster bomber have?
The typical aircraft was powered by an arrangement of four wing-mounted Rolls-Royce Merlin piston engines, each of which drove a 13 ft (4.0 m) diameter de Havilland Hydromatic three-bladed propeller.
Which planes had Merlin engines?
The Merlin was designed and built by Rolls-Royce. These powerful and reliable engines were fitted to many Second World War aircraft including the Avro Lancaster, Hawker Hurricane and the Supermarine Spitfire. Over 150,000 Merlin engines were built.
What ww2 planes had the Merlin engines?
The Merlin engine was used in forty aircraft during World War Two but it is primarily associated with the Supermarine Spitfire, Hurricane Hurricane, Avro Lancaster bomber and the de Havilland Mosquito. The Merlin was also used to upgrade the power of the previously underpowered P51 Mustang used by the USAAF.
Did the Lancaster bomber ever have radial engines?
Lancasters powered by Bristol Hercules air-cooled radial engines also were produced as a result of shortages of Merlin engines, but these proved to be less capable than Merlin-powered versions. The engine production problem was eventually resolved with Packard-built Merlins imported from the United States.
What was the better bomber B17 or Lancaster?
Going on Wiki figures the Lancaster had approx 20% longer range (2,500 miles v 2000 for the B17).
What was the life expectancy of a Lancaster bomber crew?
The Lancaster was one of the most dangerous places to be in the entire war – the life expectancy of a new recruit was just two weeks.
Why was the Merlin engine better than the Allison?
The Merlin was generally more temperamental and less reliable than the Allison, but it did produce more power. The better financed teams generally used Merlins, while those with less money typically used Allisons.
Did the Spitfire have a Merlin engine?
Spitfires were powered by Rolls-Royce Merlin engines, and later Rolls-Royce Griffon engines. Just like the aeroplanes in which they were fitted, engines were constantly tuned and developed throughout the war.
Do they still make the Merlin engine?
Production ceased in 1950 after a total of almost 150,000 engines had been delivered. Merlin engines remain in Royal Air Force service today with the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, and power many restored aircraft in private ownership worldwide.
Rolls-Royce Merlin.
| Merlin | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Rolls-Royce Limited |
| First run | 15 October 1933 |
What plane was the Widowmaker?
the B-26
The result was a rash of accidents, so that the B-26 soon acquired a reputation as a “hot” aircraft and was given the nickname “Widowmaker.” The problem was rectified in later versions by fitting longer wings at the sacrifice of some of the Marauder’s speed.
What made the Merlin engine so good?
But well-designed liquid-cooled engines like the Merlin could run for long periods beyond normal operational limits without overheating, as liquid cooling is more efficient than air cooling, particularly for the cylinder head and valves. And they could operate at higher altitudes, reducing risk from anti-aircraft fire.
Did the p51 have a Merlin engine?
The definitive version, the P-51D, was powered by the Packard V-1650-7, a license-built version of the two-speed, two-stage-supercharged Merlin 66, and was armed with six . 50 caliber (12.7 mm) AN/M2 Browning machine guns.
How many gallons of fuel did a Lancaster bomber hold?
Fuel capacity was increased from 1,700 to 2,154 gallons and range increased from 1,200 miles to 2,350 miles.
What is the difference between a Halifax and Lancaster bomber?
The main limitation was that the Halifax spread it over six compartments while the Lancaster had a single compartment (having been designed to be able to carry torpedos) which allowed it to carry much larger bombs than the Halifax. Range, ceiling and speed were similar with the Lancaster having the advantage.
Why did the Lancaster only have one pilot?
‘During the mid 1930s the Air Ministry felt that the pilot should also be the principle navigator. It soon became apparent that one pilot/navigator could not fulfil all the tasks demanded of him. This led to the addition of a second pilot/navigator.
What was the toughest bomber in ww2?
The heaviest bomber of World War II was the Boeing B-29 Superfortress, which entered service in 1944 with a fully pressurized crew compartment (previously used only on experimental aircraft) and as many as 12 . 50-inch machine guns mounted in pairs in remotely-controlled turrets.
What is the most feared bomber?
The Boeing B-29 was the biggest American bomber of the Second World War, but perhaps what made it the most deadly was that it was the aircraft that dropped the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which in a way makes the aircraft infamous.
What is the best bomber ever built?
If precision, stealth, long-range, impressive payload and speed are the demands for the title of the best bomber in the world, the U.S. Air Force B-2 Spirit is untouchable. Its combination of these war-changing characteristics also makes it the most terrifyingly destructive force in the sky.
What was the life expectancy of a tail gunner?
The Rear-Turret Gunners were in the most vulnerable position on the Plane. The life expectancy of a WW2 Rear-gunner varied but was never high, mostly about just 5-Sorties.
What plane shot down the most planes in WW2?
It is accurate to state that the P-38 did shoot down more Japanese aircraft than any other USAAF plane with 1,857, with the P-40 running a close second at 1,633.5.