The mighty Napier Sabre.

[Jim Ford]

The ultimate piston engine - tested up to 5,500 Hp:



Two flat 12 sleeve valve engines geared together to produce a compact engine. Unfortunately initially beset with quality control problems and ultimately overtaken by gas turbines.

(I've been told that the 48 spark plugs were a doddle to change, compared to a radial design engine!)

Jim

[Otto]

Crikey, that's a monster!

[Jim Ford]

Here's some amazing animations of one running:

http://www.hawkertempest.se/index.php/contributions/photos/329-napier-sabre-animations-created-by-sergio-pasquali

Makes you wonder whether anything so complex would run at all!

Jim

[Otto]

That makes a Napier Deltic look simple . It would be interesting to know what it sounded like - the Deltic is very distinctive. I had a look on YouTube but what comes up as a "running" Sabre turns out to be a Napier Lion. There is however a video of a non-running Sabre at Duxford. It might be easy to change the plugs but I wouldn't like the bill for 48 of them!

[JohnGG]

There's a wartime aircraft recognition film on YouTube for the Hawker Tempest and, if the recordings are genuine, it sounds awesome. Higher pitched than a Merlin and more complex somehow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70Sd8h3XXvU&t=61s

Cheers,

JohnGG

[Otto]

Thanks John - it does

[OM USer]

Now whats the 0-60mph time?

[Guest]

Quite a few nuts and bolts holding that thing together. Aside from being an engine, it is also a work of art!