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The R3350 also powered the P2V-7, the P5M, the DC-7, and the C-119.
Of course, those were the later (last) turbo-compounded variant, rated at 3450 Hp.
They were quite reliable engines.
When I was on the line crew at NAS Whidbey Island in 1960, we serviced the Skyraiders from NAS Sand Point. We never heard a word about engine problems on them.
This one was my dream as a kid. Never became a pilot though.
Yea, me too!
That was the first plastic model I ever built. I think my dad did most of the work.
I remember like yesterday. I was amazed it had so many working parts. Prop, landing gear, all control surfaces...
Big round engines have lots of advantages. But I take issue with your evaluation of the Wright R3350. Powerful and cool-looking, but it tended to break down a lot.
The R3350 powered the B-29 Superfortress. And its tendency to break down and/or catch fire was well known to the crews. They colloquially referred to the B-29 as an "aborting son of a b*tch".
800 Superforts would take off from Guam or Tinian to bomb Japan, but barely 700 would make it to the target. And that's BEFORE anyone started shooting at them.
Those 700 would still make quite a mess, so you never heard much about the ones that turned back.
the difference though is that in the B29, engine cooling was an issue that wasnt solved, and as such the engines tended to overheat. i think the reason is, but i would have to investigate one carefully, the engine cowlings on the B29 were excessively tight fitting to improve aerodynamics, and as such hurt engine cooling.
on the skyraider, that problem was non existent. the wright radial engines were very reliable overall, and served well into the vietnam war in a variety of roles, and a skyraider actually used cannons to shoot down a mig17/19.
Not a fighter....but would love to fly a B1. So much speed, power, range, agility, etc... I imagine them to be a dream.
If that doesn't count them I would love to fly an F15c (not a pound for air to ground) because they are the most dominant fighter of their generation.
you might prefer the F15e strike eagle instead. it has all the air to air capability of the earlier F15s, but includes the ground attack capability as well.
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