Re: [MV] 2 speed superchargers

Colin Brookes (colb@xtra.co.nz)
Fri, 6 Feb 1998 08:27:39 +1200

In message <m0y0SU9-0005C8C@ermail03.btx.dtag.de>, "A.Mehlhorn"
<a.mehlhorn@t-online.de> writes
>the big German aircraft engines of WW2 had mechanical driven super-
>chargers. Those were centrifugal fans like in todays turbochargers,
>but they were not driven by a little exhaust turbine, they were
>driven mecanically by sprocket wheels from the crankshaft.
>Regards
>Andreas

we have just this last week had a television documentary covering the
history of 'superchargers'. As usual it could of course be re-written
history 'according to Hollywood'. But the basic outline was........
The first successful superchargers were introduced by the German
Mercedes car company on their race-cars in the late 1930's. The
superchargers were permanently engaged. The British team immediately
followed with the introduction of a supercharger on their Rolls/Bentley
which could be engaged at will manualy.
A specialist engineer and collector of WW2 German aircraft engines (an
ex-ME109 pilot), was interviewed and explained in depth how the ME109
engine had an automatic governed supercharger which varied it's speed to
match the engine's speed. And proceeded to explain how the ME109 was a
far superior aircraft than the Spitfire :( A specialist on WW2
Rolls Royce Merlin engines (an ex Spitfire pilot), was then interviewed.
He gave an in-depth description of how all the major advancements were
attributed to the Spitfire which he described as far superior to the
ME109 :)

My father who was on Hurricane's, Spit's, Tempest's and then Typhoon's.
Through the 'Battle of Britain', from Tangmere 1940 to Fassberg in
Germany 1945......say's 'much of what is said about the 'Spit' is
rubbish, the 'Hurrybird' was far superior and is the aircraft that won
the war'. He also say's 'he can't understand how the Germans could have
designed such a great aircraft as the 109, with such a silly narrow
undercarriage, giving it serious take-off limitations' (:)

regards

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