stunthanger.com
General control line discussion => Open Forum => Topic started by: Dwayne on September 27, 2007, 05:37:42 PM
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http://www.aafo.com/racing/2003/rare_bear_flight_video/
A bit off topic but a kewl vid of Rare Bear! There's just someting about the sound of a Wright Cyclone, 4000 horses baby!!!!
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4000 HP sounds more like a Pratt and Whitney R4360 Wasp Major!
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4000 HP sounds more like a Pratt and Whitney R4360 Wasp Major!
Sorry Steve, it's a Wright R3350, cranking out 4000 horsies!!
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http://www.flightlevel350.com/aviation_video.php?id=1364
Lets try this, you guys gotta like this, gives me goosbumps!
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As I recall, there was a "Turbo-compound" version of the 3350. Was that the one used in Rare Bear?
Bob Z.
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Well, we have a Classic Legal Rabe Bearcat about 75% complete. I only wish I could do it up as the Rare Bear and it still be ok for Classic! That plane is second on my favorites list of full size aircraft to only the P-51D, "Big Beautiful Doll"! I don't generally like the F-8-F, but the Rare Bear ain't no ordinary F-8-F!!!!
**)
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As I recall, there was a "Turbo-compound" version of the 3350. Was that the one used in Rare Bear?
Bob Z.
Nope, not a turbo-compound. It is a well put-together, hot-rod version of the 3350 with the high supercharger gears removed using only the low altitude supercharger plus nitrous oxide. There other mods as well but John Penny and crew aren't saying exactly what. And it does make well over 4,000 hp as calculated from torque pressure.
Bill Byles
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Nope, not a turbo-compound. It is a well put-together, hot-rod version of the 3350 with the high supercharger gears removed using only the low altitude supercharger plus nitrous oxide. There other mods as well but John Penny and crew aren't saying exactly what. And it does make well over 4,000 hp as calculated from torque pressure.
Bill Byles
Thank you Bill you are 100% correct!!
Sounds like you know a little about this stuff, any chance you may alliborate?!
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Hi Dwayne,
My familiarity with Rare Bear began in 1982 when I helped Frank Sanders build the Dreadnought Hawker Sea Fury unlimited air racer. Dreadnought first raced at Reno in 1983 and I was on the crew for the next ten years. We spent a lot of time getting to know many of the unlimited air racers and their crew, Rare Bear among them. Up until 1987 Rare Bear ran in the Gold races, but was not among the fastest racers. In late 1986 the 'Bear' picked up a significant sponsor and serious work on Rare Bear began. Aerodynamic mods were made, and a new engine was built with a nitrous oxide system installed in the airplane. One of the most significant mods in terms of aerodynamic drag was in the cooling air inlet...the annular opening between the spinner and the speed ring of the cowl was reduced to the minimum needed for cooling at race power. The exhaust exit was redesigned along with the cooling air exit to reduce drag and increase thrust horsepower recovery. The airframe was sealed to minimize leakage/migration of air through the airframe, reducing drag significantly. The high blower gears were removed to reduce the power needed to turn them as they would not be used at the altitude at which the Bearcat was raced. High blower typically kicks in at around 15,000 feet msl. The low blower gears were left in place to supercharge the engine at the altitudes at which the 'Bear' would be raced. Other mods included removal of the flaps and fairing over their installation position, another drag reducing measure although the cost is a final approach speed of 120 knots. Rare Bear has been a work in progress over quite a few years and has been a well-known and popular success story in Unlimited Air Racing.
Bill Byles