Aircraft piston engine books - history (2/2)

The Merlin: The Engine That Won the Second World War

The Rolls-Royce Merlin is one of the most famous aircraft engines in history. It powered key aircraft of World War II, including the Spitfire and Hurricane, which defended Britain during the Battle of Britain in 1940. It also powered the Lancaster and Halifax bombers on missions over Germany and the Mosquito, known for its precision bombing and reconnaissance.
For the United States, the Merlin was used in the P-51 Mustang, which escorted B-17 and B-29 bombers on daytime raids. The Mustang also saw action in North Africa, the Mediterranean, and the Pacific. The engine played a crucial role in securing Allied victory.
The Merlin remains iconic, and its distinctive sound can still be heard over England today, notably during Battle of Britain Memorial Flight displays. It was most recently featured in the RAF's centenary celebrations, with a Lancaster leading Spitfires and Hurricanes in formation.
Retired pilot Gordon Wilson explores the development and wartime use of this engine, sharing accounts from aircrew who relied on it. His book provides insight into the engineering and human stories behind one of the most significant aircraft engines ever built.

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Vee's for Victory! - The Story of the Allison V-1710 Aircraft Engine, 1929-1948

Over 60 percent of U.S. Army fighters during World War II were powered by the Allison V-1710 engine, including the P-38, P-39, the lightweight fighters XP-46A and XP-47, as well as the early P-51 Mustangs.
It was a strong and reliable power plant that powered the pre-war generation of 400 mph Army pursuits, and the majority of Army combat fighters on through World War II. Even so, the V-1710 was controversial and often maligned, considered by some to have been a "second-rate" engine. Author Whitney's objective was to find, and tell, the true story of the 70,000 V-1710's and the people who built them.

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A Technical and Operational History of the Liberty Engine - Tanks, Ships and Aircraft 1917-1960

The aim of the Liberty was to standardize aircraft engine design. The theory was to have an engine design that could be built in several sizes and thus power airplanes for any purpose, from training to bombing. The differences in sizes would be obtained by using different numbers of cylinders in the same design. A large number of other parts would also be used in common by all resulting sizes of the engine series.

The initial concept called for four-, six-, eight-, and 12-cylinder models. An X-24 version was built experimentally, and one- and two-cylinder models were built for testing purposes.
The engine design eventually saw use on land, sea, and in the air, and its active military career spanned the years 1917 to 1960. In addition, it provided noble service in a multitude of civilian uses, and still does even today, some 90 years after the first engine ran.

This book covers the complete history of the Liberty's design, production, and use in amazing detail and includes appendixes covering contracts, testing, specifications, and much more.

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The Engines of Pratt & Whitney - A Technical History as Told by the Engineers Who Made the History

Describes the evolution from piston engines to gas turbines by the engineers who created those engines. Included are hundreds of archival photographs, as well as over a dozen tables listing specifications and applications. The story starts with the founding of the company in the 1920s to provide reliable air-cooled piston engines to the military and to help create coast-to-coast commercial flight service.
Pratt & Whitney quickly dominated commercial and military flight in the 1930s, ultimately providing half the horsepower of American engines during World War II.

Jack Connors explains how Pratt & Whitney came from behind the competition in developing gas turbines after the war with the debut of the J57, which powered the B-52 in 1952 and later the Air Force Century Series fighters (F-100, F-101, and F-102) and the Navy A-3D, F-4D, and F-8 airplanes.
Also covered is the development of the J58, which powered the Mach 3+ YF-12 and SR-71 aircraft and subsequent military engines; the F100 in the F-15 and F-16; the F119 in the F-22; and, the F135 in the F-35 series.Pratt & Whitney's contribution to the luxury commercial jet era travel is also detailed, with its JT3, JT3D, JT4, JT8D, JT9D, PW2000, PW4000, and PW6000 in Boeing, Douglas, and Airbus aircraft.

This history of Pratt & Whitney's role in the evolution of aircraft engines from 1925 to the present day offers young engineers a wealth of insights about design, development, marketing, and product support for commercial and military customers.

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Sunbeam Aero Engines

The Sunbeam Motor Car Company, the first major British aircraft engine manufacturer, entered the aviation industry in 1912. They were among the first to buy an aircraft for engine testing, flown by the renowned test pilot Jack Alcock.

During World War I, Sunbeam was a crucial supplier of engines and aircraft, especially to the Royal Naval Air Service. Sunbeam engines were the most powerful British engines of the time. They powered the first aircraft to torpedo an enemy ship, the only aircraft to fly at the Battle of Jutland, and the first seaplanes to operate in central Africa.

After the war, Sunbeam engines powered notable British airships like the R.34, the first aircraft to fly the Atlantic east to west and make a double crossing, and the R.33, the British dirigible with the most flight hours.

When Sunbeam returned to car manufacturing, their aero engines were used in land speed record-breaking cars, including the first to exceed 150 mph and 200 mph, ironically faster than any Sunbeam-powered aircraft.

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