Quote:
Originally Posted by JtD
Can you please try to understand what other posters are saying before making insulting assumptions about them? 
I've wondered about how it's possible to kill the engine with one shot, went to a museum, looked at the components around the engine and found that there was one crucial component that had no backup. Books I acquired later confirm it. However, all this was many years ago and you'll have to forgive me that I do not remember the details from the top of my head. I don't understand why you prefer to insult me instead of looking into your sources to post the details yourself.
Fortunately, other posters are more constructive - The_WOZ has by now posted the details - thank you. Single magnetos, dual distribution. Hit the magnetos and the R-2800 is dead. One shot, rifle calibre. Magnetos gone, ignition dies, engine dies, the impossible made possible. |
I never said, nor did I imply, that it was impossible.
And what part of "two mags" don't you understand? Take out one, the other still operates.
They each have their own circuit. Either of the mags by themselves can still run the engine, albeit at reduced capability, but under normal conditions they both operate at the same time.
That is the backup system you keep saying is not there. If you get a single shot that makes it past the propeller arc and still manages to take out both mags, then that shot would have had to be a rather large caliber one (
direct hit from an 25mm or greater, etc.), and as I pointed out earlier, that kind of hit would hurt the aircraft anyway, no matter where it hit.
In other words, that "one shot rifle caliber" that you keep referring to that makes a direct hit on one of the mags will not disable the ignition system, because there is
still another magneto running! You'd have to make a direct hit with a second shot at the second mag to disable the system. Get it now?
I wasn't insulting you, and I'm sorry if you took it that way, but frankly you were getting some details quite wrong.