Continental TSOL-300-2

[blueldr]

If those engines turned at 2700 RPM, I wonder how they reduced it to turn a 16 ft. prop and what the reduction ratio had to be. Sixteen foot props would have to turn pretty slow to keep the tip speed down to a usable speed.
A good many people fail to realize that just about all engines over 400 HP have reduced drives to the propeller shaft.
I remember that the R-3350 engines on the B-29 turned at 20 to 7. Those props were 16ft. , I believe.
When the engines were making 2000 RPM, the props were turning at 700. I think most of the engines on Gooney Birds ran at about 16 to 9.

[GAHorn]

BL, empty weight was 8000 lbs with gross weight at 20000 lbs. how it got up to 67k feet, on two 175 hp turbocharged engines seems amazing to me.

Instead of green chromate they used RED OXIDE primer.

http://www.boeing.com/history/products/ ... hicle.page

[blueldr]

Thanks for the pix. I don't believe I ever heard of that project. It's really a helluva BIG airplane!

[jrenwick]

I guess that big 200' wing and 16' diameter props must have made all the difference.

Some aircraft with wings like that have climbed to 50,000 feet without any engines at all!