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Too many engines!

PostPosted: Mon Mar 17, 2014 11:56 am
by Shane Stachwick
I have seen VLJs with a single engine, 777s with twin engines, MD-11s with three, A380s with four, the 367-80 modified with five, the An-225 with six, the CL-52 with seven, and B-52s with eight. Has anyone made or modified a jet with 9 engines? Just curious.

Re: Too many engines!

PostPosted: Mon Mar 17, 2014 2:04 pm
by rafair
It's a long time ago but I seem to remember flying a B-52 with two jet powered missiles under the wings. Not really a 10 engined but close.

Re: Too many engines!

PostPosted: Mon Mar 17, 2014 3:05 pm
by Sprocket
rafair wrote:It's a long time ago but I seem to remember flying a B-52 with two jet powered missiles under the wings. Not really a 10 engined but close.


Well there must be something in it..
I recently watched a show on TV about the logistics of getting things in and out of the North Pole science installations.
They have specially rigged C130's on ski's, and for takeoff they fix small jet engines both sides near the tail end.
On take-off, these pilots get a super shove from behind :D

Found this link.. :dance:

http://www.wimp.com/howplanes/

Re: Too many engines!

PostPosted: Mon Mar 17, 2014 5:21 pm
by planephysician
The B-36 had 10. 6 R-4360's and 4 J-47's.

Image

Dave

Re: Too many engines!

PostPosted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 9:58 am
by Shane Stachwick
10 engines is cool. How about 9? It seems to me that designers don't even bother with odd numbers greater than three. The great part about an odd number (3 for example) is that if your center engine goes out, you still have symmetrical thrust. If say, your port engine goes out instead, you can descend, shut off the starboard engine, and fly with symmetrical thrust from your center engine. The thrust reduction is less for a greater number of engines (5,7,or 9 for example). Perhaps this is because it's difficult to accommodate an engine within the tail? I know that the V-tail solution makes this less of a problem, though.

Re: Too many engines!

PostPosted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 10:34 am
by Fozzer
Of course, when it comes to actual cylinders, they come in odd-numbers....

Radial engines:

..3...5...7...9... :D ...!

Paul.....a very odd number.!.. :mrgreen: ...!

Re: Too many engines!

PostPosted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 4:11 pm
by Shane Stachwick
Dornier 31 (West German experimental VTOL tactical transport) had 10 engines. That leaves the only "gap" that I know of at 9.

Re: Too many engines!

PostPosted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 4:47 pm
by tinpusher
Dornier Do X flying boat of 1929 had 12 engines.

Re: Too many engines!

PostPosted: Wed Mar 19, 2014 12:02 pm
by Shane Stachwick
tinpusher wrote:Dornier Do X flying boat of 1929 had 12 engines.


Yes, I have heard of that. I'm just looking for a jet-powered aircraft. The Dornier X was awesome, but even with 12 engines, it was underpowered and a commercial failure.

Re: Too many engines!

PostPosted: Thu Mar 20, 2014 8:54 am
by Shane Stachwick
planephysician wrote:The B-36 had 10. 6 R-4360's and 4 J-47's.

Image

Dave


On a good day: "6 turning, 4 burning"

On a bad day: "2 turning, 2 burning, 2 smoking, 2 choking, and 2 engines unaccounted for."

Re: Too many engines!

PostPosted: Sat Mar 22, 2014 7:22 pm
by Shane Stachwick
Dassault Mirage IIIV (French prototype VTOL fighter) had 9 engines.