Mailing List flyrotary@lancaironline.net Message #25447
From: Michael D. Callahan <micallahan@worldnet.att.net>
Subject: Re: [FlyRotary] Re: different take on the P-38 issue
Date: Wed, 27 Jul 2005 00:50:55 -0500
To: Rotary motors in aircraft <flyrotary@lancaironline.net>
Bill,
    All American 38s had counter rotating props, but the Birts ordered them with common rotation for the exact reasons I stated. Not only that, but the P-38's couter rotating props were set up so as to make BOTH engines critical. If you lost an engine (especially on takeoff or initial climb) you had no choice but to pull power and go straight ahead. That is, if you were fast or lucky enough to get the power off before you snapped inverted.
    Yes indeed, maybe a pair of  800 cu in Wankels? heheh. Mike C.
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Wednesday, July 27, 2005 12:08 AM
Subject: [FlyRotary] Re: different take on the P-38 issue

In a message dated 7/26/2005 9:57:56 PM Pacific Standard Time, micallahan@worldnet.att.net writes:
Yup I'm still here and Rusty is right... You BET I'll throw in two cents worth here!
    Now, if I am thinking correctly, the Brit/Canadian version of the P-38 had Allisons with no turbos and also did not have counter-rotating props. That was one of the mods. You had to have a nearly entirely different parts inventory for the backwards engine. I don't think there were any backwards Merlins, either, so that makes a lot of sense in the supply line.
    This is an amazing find, Todd. Charlie is right, too. The Navy can use maritime law to reclaim anything in any country for an unlimited time. The Air Force doesn't care once it is written off their inventory. Sounds like you just bought yourself a P-38 my friend!
    This looks WAY too far gone to salvage as a restoration, though. Might be nice to build a model and paint it up as this one appeared originally. That way you could show visitors what that ball of metal sticking out of the ground really is. The RCAF might be able to help you track down the records if you contact their historical dept. Contact one of the museums up there and they will probably jump at the chance to help track this down.
    The number on the clamp is really not very useful. That would be like trying to identify a car by a radiator clamp number. You might look for a number on that prop, though. That should be traceable.
    You can email me directly about this if everybody gets pissy about this being "off topic". This is extremely cool. Mike C.
Guys,
 I may be wrong but I believe that all the '38's had counter rotating Allisons. The turbos were in short supply for both the 38 and the P-47 durring the war. Probably why the non-turbo versions were sold.
 To make this a more "on-topic" discussion, wouldn't the rotary make a perfect engine for a P-38 replica! PP rotaries will run in either direction as well so you could even do the counter rotating props! Spur gear PSRU (Mistral or Powersport) would work fine backward. Just dreaming.
Bill Jepson
Subscribe (FEED) Subscribe (DIGEST) Subscribe (INDEX) Unsubscribe Mail to Listmaster