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Corsair Restoration - Vultures Row Aviation

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NutmegCT said:
Following on Paul's Corsair description, rotary (not radial) engine aircraft of WW1 were notoriously difficult to control, especially at takeoff. The entire rotary engine itself is spinning, so there's a tremendous "gyroscopic" effect. As you reach Vr (lift off) speed, pull the yoke back, lift the nose - and the entire aircraft begins to rotate in the opposite direction as the engine is turning. Many young pilots died on their first solo training flight, not being prepared to mash that pedal to counteract the gyro tendency. A similar problem occurs on many other aircraft (P factor), but the rotary engine was much worse.
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Didn't have an actual throttle in many cases, but could cut off one or more cylinders ignition to slow the engine speed. Otherwise for takeoff and landing they tended to be either full speed or off. When you hear the throttle being "blipped" on one, they're turning the ignition off and on from a switch.

I ran across video once of a two row 14 cylinder rotary being run towards the end of WW1. Apparently never went into true production as they found the spinning weight was too much for the aircraft of the time to be able to counteract. But it was impressive to watch them prop it on a test stand. No audio though so have no idea what the sound was line
 
Link didn't work. PJ
 
Paul, yes a Zeus key. Mine fits, I think three different sizes.
 
Here you go Walter, government issue, I always modified the key on the bottom of the handle to fit very narrow fasteners. PJ
View attachment 52062
 
That's the one.
 
Sorry about the spelling, but Dzus looks correct. Never heard it called a wrench Tom and used one many times. If you went to the tools bin for another one, you asked for a Dzus key, not wrench. Of course, someone somewhere at sometime might have called it a wrench, like the guy on a TV commercial asking if a crow bar was a tire wrench. :devilgrin: PJ

The government issue keys were made out of steel plated with cadmium, but high use and wear and salt air would cause them to start to get a rusty look, so we would make our own out of stainless and ad fancy handles. There was no regulation on what you used as long as it worked.
 
Paul - only reason I remember Dzus, is the bonnet latches on my old TR3. Same "quick release" idea as on cowlings.

dzusinstallation_zpsf9849a02.png
 
My close encounter with a Corsair was on the Oregon coast. A rare sunny day and I'm walking on the beach when I hear a rumble to the south. Look over and here (hear!) comes a Corsair, approx. 100 ft off the water and moving fast to the north. Whatta sight and sound. Probably out of the Air Museum in Tillamook that has since moved to The Dalles(?). A vivid memory.
A production stat: The British could build a Spitfire fighter in 6 weeks. It takes (took) 18 months to build a F15. So... even with 24 hour production it would take 6 months (MAYBE a bit less) to build a F15. Attrition is where its at now.
I recommend "The Arsenal of Democracy" by A.J. Baime and "War Baby" by Larry L. Ruth to those of you interested in WWll production. The A of D is about production of the B24 Liberator by the Ford Motor Co. and what it took to fulfill the boast of a bomber per hour. WB deals with the design and production (by GM, IBM, Rockola, Underwood, Winchester et al) of the M1 carbine. 6 million total made, 5 million in 1944/45 alone. I own an M1 carbine made by IBM and a .45 Mdl 1911 made by Remington Rand, (the typewriter company NOT the gun company!) and both are not pretty but highly functional.
I also recommend "G.I. The American Soldier In WWll" by Lee Kennett for an overview the men and their attributes, aptitudes, and attitudes towards the war and the Army. A real eye-opener in terms of the good ol' days.
Cheers,
JHB
 
Add Bill Mauldin's "Up Front" to that reading list. AFTER reading Kennett.
 
I vividly remember a time as a kid when my dad I were driving from Salida to Colorado Springs and as we were driving through Poncha Pass a Corsair and a Mustang passed up overhead, it was an amazing sight. When we got to Canon City my dad, on a lark, drove by the airfield and there the two planes were. They were out of California and on their way to an air show, I forget where, but they were stopping in Canon City because the pilots knew someone in town and were spending the night. It was a really unforgettable experience.
 
waltesefalcon said:
I vividly remember a time as a kid when my dad I were driving from Salida to Colorado Springs and as we were driving through Poncha Pass a Corsair and a Mustang passed up overhead, it was an amazing sight. When we got to Canon City my dad, on a lark, drove by the airfield and there the two planes were. They were out of California and on their way to an air show, I forget where, but they were stopping in Canon City because the pilots knew someone in town and were spending the night. It was a really unforgettable experience.
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Walter, Did your dad take you over the Razorback? I took my wife over it once in my Jeep and she said never again! I've been over it half a dozen times, interesting and fun. :encouragement: PJ
 
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