Flying Heritage ME-262 Taxi Test

[donna43]

[Devil 505]

 

[Ramesis]

Is normal to the engine cowlings off in a taxi test?

[Shuffler]

Is normal to the engine cowlings off in a taxi test?

I doubt it. In this case though, they definitely want to see any fire or leaks quickly.

[hazmatt]

Wonder if they are the original engines. I'd love to hear the authentic sound but it seems too risky to fly them with engines made during that time frame especially with all the raw material issues.

[donna43]

This extremely rare aircraft still has it's original Junker Jumo 004 engines.  The newly-manufactured Jumo 004 engines, using proper metals, have an estimated life expectancy of over 300-hrs before overhaul (compared to just 25-hrs with the original WWII-manufactured engines).

[hazmatt]

This extremely rare aircraft still has it's original Junker Jumo 004 engines.

Aye, but will they fly it with them?

[donna43]

Aye, but will they fly it with them?

Test flying will be performed at Moses Lake, WA, with 10-15 test flights expected to be required before they are satisfied with moving the aircraft to the FHCAM home base of Paine Field in Everett, WA, where, depending on how things go, the aircraft will continue to be operated on a limited basis, Steve Hinton will be the pilot.

[donna43]

Interesting read.      http://warbirdsnews.com/warbird-restorations/fhcams-me-262-warpaint-unveiled.html

[Busher]

This extremely rare aircraft still has it's original Junker Jumo 004 engines.  The newly-manufactured Jumo 004 engines, using proper metals, have an estimated life expectancy of over 300-hrs before overhaul (compared to just 25-hrs with the original WWII-manufactured engines).

Admittedly a very old design but with modern metallurgy, I wonder why the TBO is so short.

[Bodhi]

That's awesome

[icepac]

Steve Hinton or Steve Hinton Jr.?

They're both great sticks.

[Golfer]

Steve Hinton or Steve Hinton Jr.?

They're both great sticks.

Sure looked like Senior in the airplane.

[mikeWe9a]

Admittedly a very old design but with modern metallurgy, I wonder why the TBO is so short.

Possibly because no such timeline was ever established for the original design, and there hasn't been enough testing with the new ones to justify an increased time limit.  It is quite possible that no original build engine ever exceeded 500 hours total, given the low fuel availability and frequent rebuilds needed in the original.  Given the relatively low demand for the engines, it is unlikely that new builds have racked up a service history extensive enough for the manufacturer to be comfortable with extending it.

Mike

[Bodhi]

Mike, the originals were lucky to get 10 hours before overhaul or total replacement.  The spec'd materials did not readily exist for the Germans to use, so they substituted.  Thankfully for the allies.