Spitfire PR. Mk. XIX engine start up video

[Pannono]

  high good quality sound
i love the contra-rotating props
http://youtube.com/watch?v=FbgpH2nrn-A

[Angus]

I can but wonder what the top speed and ROC of that thing is, especially the ROC.
Well, since it is a PR....

Even a 262 would tire itself to no success if the PR pilot knew of it...

[Krusty]

The contra-rotating props proved only marginally better than a single prop setup with more blades, because of the heavy gearbox, interconnection gears to make the props counter-rotate, and the weight of the second prop.

The performance really wasn't much better than single engine designs of the time, so that is why it didn't take off (no pun intended) at the time.

[MiloMorai]

I think there is something wrong with the caption. I can find no references to a PR XIX fitted with contra props. The Mk 21 had contra props.

[Krusty]

I seem to recall something about XIX having it, but nothing to reference specifically. I recall some tried it before the 21, but wasn't overly common.

[Wmaker]

I think there is something wrong with the caption. I can find no references to a PR XIX fitted with contra props. The Mk 21 had contra props.

The caption is correct.

They didn't have them originally, but as the caption says they fitted Avro Shackleton's engine into this one. There was a nice article about the plane in FlyPast shortly after the restoration was completed. I don't recall what was the decision behind this...too lazy to dig up that magazine right now from those piles.

[Wmaker]

n/m

[CAP1]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=SZo1KBPKa7c&feature=related

this one is pretty good

[mentalguy]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=SIj2GVfua84&feature=related



A Merlin in a Chevy.

[Pannono]

A Merlin in a Chevy.

damn i wonder how fast that thing goes

[Bronk]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=SIj2GVfua84&feature=related



A Merlin in a Chevy.

Hmmmm sherman engine in a mustang?

[Guppy35]

I think there is something wrong with the caption. I can find no references to a PR XIX fitted with contra props. The Mk 21 had contra props.

This particular Spit 19 was gifted to Planes of Fame by Thailand.  It was fitted with the Shackleton Griffon and contra props and initiall was given a clipped wing as they were going to try and break some speed records with it.  it now has full span wings but still has the twin prop.

No wartime or operational 19s had that set up.  It was first tested on a Spit VIII and later used on the Seafire 47.  A few 21s, 22s and 24s had them.  By that time Jets were the deal so it wasn't pursued to any length.

[SgtPappy]

There were Mk.19s in service by the Korean war though. It had the distinction of flying the last operational sortie by the RAF in that war I believe.

[Guppy35]

There were Mk.19s in service by the Korean war though. It had the distinction of flying the last operational sortie by the RAF in that war I believe.

19s were flying sorties in WW2, I don't believe they saw ops in Korea.  The 3 PR19s of a meteoroligical flight flew the last operational Spit sortie in the late 50s.  All three of those 19s are still flying, 2 with the B of B flight and one with Rolls Royce.

[Cthulhu]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=SIj2GVfua84&feature=related



A Merlin in a Chevy.

Nothing like 3000 #/in springs to smooth out that rough ride.