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232 - what really happened
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Re: 232 - what really happened
Great video! Thank you Lewis Air Legends for sharing! I noticed in the video from the pits that the tailwheel was out. That couldn't have been from the g-forces, right?
Race 29Full throttle till you see God, then turn left!
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Re: 232 - what really happened
Really bummed 232 didn't make it to Sunday but glad it ended well! Que wingman 232 picture to make this thread complete!
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Re: 232 - what really happened
Originally posted by Ken Adkins View Post
Amazing video. I've run the first angle several times and watched the different gauges. I'm assuming that boost is lower row, second from right. It swings all over the place a couple of times and then drops all the way when Hoot pulls the power back. Also a red warning lamp comes on briefly right next to it then goes out when the power comes off- induction temp?
And was Hoot cool or what? Wow.
All I can say is that if I were Rod Lewis, I'd sure keep going with 232 and crew no matter what I decided to do with the Bearcat. That engine was sounding like no 3350 on-board I've ever heard before prior to the incident (never heard one from Rare Bear in her glory years, though...) Afterward... what a god-awful sound, but at least it was still running. Radials are amazing as long as the master rod stays in one piece. Hopefully in this case the damage is limited to the carb and blower and not cylinders. I'm sure pieces of cowling hitting the carburetor venturis at high speed did some damage there and that alone could make the engine run like poop since the carb could no longer meter fuel correctly. But seems like I remember a similar thing happening to 232 and/or Riff-Raff when they were playing with Skyraider-style scoops, and it did a number on the blower as well... anyone remember if cylinders got chewed up also?
As to the question of whether a Merlin could keep running after a thing like that... my guess is probably so. In fact several have blown off their induction trunks over the years so it's been done- don't know how much usable power they were producing afterward though. The carb and blower would get the same abuse as on a 3350, but on a Merlin the flame traps might even be able to keep the junk from getting to the cylinders at all, unless the force of impact could punch through the screens.
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Re: 232 - what really happened
Originally posted by Paul_E_Richards View PostAm I just seeing things, or is the tail wheel slightly deployed on the final lap?
Will
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Re: 232 - what really happened
Originally posted by RAD2LTR View PostThe tail wheel was hanging out from about the beginning of the 2nd lap. When 232 went past me at the start it was still where it belonged, the 2nd lap it was out.
WillFledgling Air Race and P-51 Junkie
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