Friday 2010-12-17 Dev. update and Discussion

[T}{OR]

Originally Posted by Sutts

Not sure if I understand you correctly. Turbochargers were most definitely used during WWII but on aircraft such as the P-47 and P-38 and bombers such as B-17 and B-24. I don't think any BoB aircraft used them.

The function of both is the same - i.e. to compress the air before it enters a cylinder. Either to produce the same atmosphere as if you were flying on sea level or to increase engine power. The difference is how they are driven. Supercharger is linked to the crankshaft usually with a belt pulley or set of gears. Turbocharger is driven by exhaust gases and thus for it to operate efficiently requires certain speed out of those gases - i.e. works best when on mid or high RPM. Early turbochargers were massive in comparison what we have today.

Although they were available before WW2, rapid development of turbochargers started after WW2, IIRC when F1 started using them (they were banned in F1 shortly afterwards due to excessive power these engines produced).



EDIT: You are correct:

Aircraft such as the Fw 190D, B-17 Flying Fortress, and P-47 Thunderbolt all used turbochargers to increase high altitude engine power.

So says Wikipedia.

I presume that you could only mount them in larger (e.g. radial engines), because even in 70's they were massive compared to today. And it makes sense - especially with P-38 which has those long pylons behind engines.