What's it feel like to handle 1000 bhp???

[jluetjen]

Apologies to "Motorsport" for copying their headline, but I was at Barnes & Noble picking up some reading material for a business trip and noticed that "Motorsport" has a great looking article on 917-10/001 and Willi Kauhsen. "Classiccars" has what looks to be a good piece on perenial Porsche driver Derek Bell. Not to be out done the UK magazine 911& Porsche World has 30 page supplement on "40 years of the Porsche 911 -- The Early Years; 1963 - 1973". Those are the classic years, aren't they?

Needless to say - I bought all of them.

Enjoy!

[Bill Verburg]

It feels great, when handling the sheets for the genoa or spinnaker of a 55 footer you can feel the power.

Oh you meant in a car

[Jim Richards]

Nice jibe.

[sammyg2]

Years ago I had that much horsepower in an 18 foot dragboat, but the engine weighed almost as much as a 917

[HawgRyder]

I used to feel that with 2 ...count them ...2 engines that put out twice the HP.
Of course they were bolted to a Lockheed P38 that had modified Merlin 61B's on board.
And yes....the power is addictive....no matter how much you have...a little more would always be nice.
Bob

[BlueSkyJaunte]

You're joking. You've flown a P38? You are my new God.

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

Okay, I'll see yer Lockheed and raise you two. Flew Vern Raburn's Connie a couple of years ago--the silver one with the MATS insignia. 4 x 2,200 hp. Only airplane that big I've ever stalled (intentionally), and with people standing in the cabin.

Merlin 61As in place of the Allison V-1710s? New one on me...

Stephan

[orph]

A Lockheed Connie; would luv to get a type rating in one of those ! Great machine in it's time. Realize Howard Hughes was still bringing them on line ( new ! ) with TWA in the early '60s, when everyone else was well into the jet era ?

[Bill Verburg]

You guys call running a machine, handeling?

[Adam]

A P38?? Tell us a little more!

I was lucky enough to witness a Super Constellation (red & white livery - don't remember the insignias, but I've got pictures!) roaring around at our last Melbourne Airshow. Talk about an awesome noise, especially on take-off!

[HawgRyder]

The Lockheed was owned by my father's old RAF CO...now in the canadian air force.
It was resurected from Utah (one of the storage cans) and engined with Merlins because he knew them better than Allisons.
Problem...Merlins do not have opposite rotation...so there was a heck of a yaw on take-off.
Fitted Hamilton-Standard 4 blade props....left the upper section of the original turbo housing in the hole to plug it...slightly modified controls...and gobs of power.
Very fun to fly....and I'm told much better fuel economy than the originals (probably because of the reduced throttle settings).
Aircraft is in Ottawa Canada as far as I know....has been grounded for lack of qualified pilot for several years....owner passed away in 1994...and left the plane to his nephew (non-pilot).
Bob