Beyond The Sprues

Modelling => Ideas & Inspiration => Aero-space => Topic started by: Logan Hartke on December 08, 2012, 11:48:12 AM

Title: Five engine aircraft
Post by: Logan Hartke on December 08, 2012, 11:48:12 AM
I don't mean any with APUs or testbeds or a 747 carrying a spare engine.  I mean aircraft designed to be powered by 5 engines of roughly equivalent power.  I can only think of four:

Zeppelin-Staaken R.XIV/R.XV

(http://flyingmachines.ru/Images7/Putnam/German_Giants/144-2.jpg)

Felixstowe Fury

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3615/3292754626_2848573121.jpg)

Tupolev ANT-14

(http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6072/6057180488_e155a7cf0c_z.jpg)

Heinkel He 111Z Zwilling

(http://crimso.msk.ru/Images6/IN/IN-1006/45-1.jpg)

Can anyone think of any others?

Cheers,

Logan
Title: Re: Five engine aircraft
Post by: GTX_Admin on December 08, 2012, 01:37:17 PM
Got me stumped...I keep thinking of testbeds.
Title: Re: Five engine aircraft
Post by: elmayerle on December 08, 2012, 02:46:19 PM
I think it had more than five, but there's the Barling Bomber of the 1920's.
Title: Re: Five engine aircraft
Post by: GTX_Admin on December 08, 2012, 04:59:14 PM
Yeah, I can think of a number with more than 5 engines, but those with only 5 is few.
Title: Re: Five engine aircraft
Post by: Daryl J. on December 09, 2012, 07:17:32 AM
Stretching the SM-79 into a Pentamotor has passed through my mind crime time to time.
Title: Re: Five engine aircraft
Post by: Logan Hartke on December 09, 2012, 07:54:24 AM
Alright, let's open it up to concepts and proposals, then.  Testbeds, etc.

Cheers,

Logan
Title: Re: Five engine aircraft
Post by: elmayerle on December 09, 2012, 11:23:57 AM
Okay, going to an absurd extreme, one of those three PT6A conversions of the DC-3 with a pair of smaller engine booster pods (J85s perhaps) under the wing for improved performance under extreme conditions.
Title: Re: Five engine aircraft
Post by: Logan Hartke on December 09, 2012, 11:38:23 AM
That gives me an idea!  How about one of these Catalinas...

(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c246/con-pilot/Bird_small.jpg)

...converted for use as a firebomber with an added C-119-style J34 "Jet-Pack" on top of the wing mounted on the central pylon to increase the amount of water it could carry and give better lift in tight spaces.

(http://www.warbirdalley.com/images/C119-N5216R.jpg)

A Catalina with five engines?  Hmm...

Cheers,

Logan
Title: Re: Five engine aircraft
Post by: elmayerle on December 09, 2012, 11:43:14 AM
I like that 5-engined Catalina, though  you might need some changes to the tail assembly to protect it from exhaust impingement.  Perhaps use a turbofan with a good mixer of fan and core flows?
Title: Re: Five engine aircraft
Post by: Logan Hartke on December 09, 2012, 11:48:08 AM
Or just go twin tail?  Anyway, here's another idea that's pretty plausible given Fokker's use of trimotors:

Fokker F.32 + 1 in the nose

(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9oE7i3bj_PU/T5oE81emPbI/AAAAAAAAA5Y/9IdcrjLR7r8/s1600/glendale-f32-01cr-12.jpg)

Heck, it's practically made for it.  I bet someone that's good at photo manipulation like Stéphane could whip something up with that in no time.

Cheers,

Logan
Title: Re: Five engine aircraft
Post by: elmayerle on December 09, 2012, 11:53:46 AM
Damn, that's crying out for it.  It also suggests the "obvious" move of adding pusher engines to, say, the Ford-Stout Trimotor.  Also, ISTR a French design of the same period (A Potez, perhaps?) had a similar configuration of four engines in two nacelles and would be a suitable subject for such a modification.
Title: Re: Five engine aircraft
Post by: Logan Hartke on December 09, 2012, 12:01:45 PM
The Farman F.220 series is probably what you're thinking about.  I think the Boeing 80 would do well with the addition of pushers in the nacelles, too, if beefed up to compete with the Fokker F.32, for instance.  Finally, how about a Handley-Page HP.42/45 with three engines on the top wing instead of just the two?

(http://www.edcoatescollection.com/ac5/ROW%20Europe/F-APMA.jpg)

(http://www.edcoatescollection.com/ac3/Airline/Boeing%20AT%20Boeing%2080A.jpg)

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7018/6848442601_d83fd62c41_z.jpg)

Cheers,

Logan
Title: Re: Five engine aircraft
Post by: elmayerle on December 09, 2012, 12:27:21 PM
*laughs* I like all three of those suggestions.  Yeah, it was probably the Farman as it's been quite a while since I looked over French aircraft of the 1930s.  On the other hand, consider some of the French twins, such as the Bloch MB-200 or Potez 540, with pusher engines added to the nacelles and a fifth engine in the nose.  Stepping back farther than the Catalina in the US, a Consolidated P2Y with a centerline engine and pusher engines added to the existing engine nacelles would work as would a stretched version, in length and span, with a centerline and two more outboard engine nacelles.
Title: Re: Five engine aircraft
Post by: GTX_Admin on December 09, 2012, 03:02:36 PM
Speaking of testbeds:

(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e68/GTwiner/new%20one/scan-1.jpg)
Title: Re: Five engine aircraft
Post by: Rickshaw on December 09, 2012, 04:29:27 PM
Weren't there several early Soviet aircraft that had five+ engines?
Title: Re: Five engine aircraft
Post by: Logan Hartke on December 10, 2012, 02:49:30 AM
That looks great, Greg.  I've always loved that one.

Weren't there several early Soviet aircraft that had five+ engines?


There's the Tupolev ANT-14 that I mentioned in the first post, but all the others I'm aware of had more than 5, like the ANT-20 (eight) and Kalinin K-7 (seven).

Most of the B-17 testbeds look pretty crazy, but this one's not bad.

(http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/attachments/engines/55425d1299778319t-five-engine-b-17-3.jpg)

Cheers,

Logan
Title: Re: Five engine aircraft
Post by: arkon on December 10, 2012, 01:33:41 PM
how about a d0-24 with the outboards as push - pull instead of just pull?
Title: Re: Five engine aircraft
Post by: Daryl J. on December 10, 2012, 02:48:38 PM
I just looked at the Matchbox Stranraer kit as a possible 5 engined project.   It defeated me immediately.
Title: Re: Five engine aircraft
Post by: Logan Hartke on December 10, 2012, 03:48:25 PM
I can imagine.  Plastic isn't my medium, but I think one of the most interesting five-engine configurations for a Stranraer would just be a row of 5 Rolls-Royce Kestrels evenly spaced across the front on the upper wing.  You're looking at a readily available and reliable engine that Supermarine was familiar with, along with a modest increase in power as a tradeoff for the greater weight.

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d4/RRKestrelHind.JPG/640px-RRKestrelHind.JPG)

Cheers,

Logan
Title: Re: Five engine aircraft
Post by: Weaver on December 10, 2012, 08:59:13 PM
One of these would look good with pusher engines on the back of the nacelles:

(http://www.aviastar.org/pictures/holland/fokker_f-20_1.jpg)

(Fokker F.XX)
Title: Re: Five engine aircraft
Post by: GTX_Admin on December 10, 2012, 09:56:44 PM
Oh yeah!
Title: Re: Five engine aircraft
Post by: Logan Hartke on December 10, 2012, 09:59:24 PM
I wonder if you saw fewer push-pull aircraft because tricycle landing gear hadn't yet become popular.

Cheers,

Logan
Title: Re: Five engine aircraft
Post by: jcf on December 11, 2012, 02:00:26 AM
Add the center engine of the Farman F.120T Jabiru to the nose of a Farman F.121 Jabiru.

(http://1000aircraftphotos.com/Contributions/KleinBernhard/7089L.jpg)

(http://1000aircraftphotos.com/Contributions/Braas/5269L.jpg)

Five engines and fugly to boot. What's not to love? ;D

The push-pull arrangement was not uncommon through the twenties - early thirties, however,
it was not very efficient. The slipstream from the forward propeller reduced the effectiveness
of the trailing unit and as engines became more powerful it fell by the wayside.

Five Kestrels would be a tough fit on a Strannie, as it actually aint' that large of an aircraft.
Title: Re: Five engine aircraft
Post by: Logan Hartke on December 11, 2012, 02:32:49 AM
Where is Brian?  I get the feeling that he'd build half of these.

Cheers,

Logan
Title: Re: Five engine aircraft
Post by: Daryl J. on December 11, 2012, 05:42:47 AM
Quote
Where is Brian?  I get the feeling that he'd build half of these.

Like button pushed.   ;D
Title: Re: Five engine aircraft
Post by: GTX_Admin on December 11, 2012, 04:19:38 PM
([url]http://1000aircraftphotos.com/Contributions/KleinBernhard/7089L.jpg[/url])


Cockpit?  We don't needed no stinkin' cockpit! :)
Title: Re: Five engine aircraft
Post by: Alvis 3.1 on December 12, 2012, 02:03:12 AM
(http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g102/Alvis3_1/ZutAlorsColour.jpg)

(http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g102/Alvis3_1/ZutAlorsBW.jpg)


The Zut Alors 945?

Alvis 3.1
Title: Re: Five engine aircraft
Post by: Stachwick on December 27, 2013, 07:49:55 AM
I have heard that Boeing flew the 367-80 ("Dash 80), prototype for the 707, with a 5th engine on the tail for systems testing in the 727 program.  I found a picture at the following URL.  Can't figure out how to insert picture into the post.

http://www.flightsim.com/vbfs/showthread.php?2541-Boeing-7-s/page4 (http://www.flightsim.com/vbfs/showthread.php?2541-Boeing-7-s/page4)
Title: Re: Five engine aircraft
Post by: GTX_Admin on December 27, 2013, 08:25:23 AM
Here you go:

(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e68/GTwiner/image_zps3a275bcb.jpg)
Title: Re: Five engine aircraft
Post by: elmayerle on December 27, 2013, 10:08:25 AM
Why do I keep thinking of a 727/737 cross with a stretched fuselage and five engines?
Title: Re: Five engine aircraft
Post by: finsrin on December 27, 2013, 01:17:03 PM
Why do I keep thinking of a 727/737 cross with a stretched fuselage and five engines?

Cuz it makes kitbashing sense.  :))
Title: Re: Five engine aircraft
Post by: PR19_Kit on December 27, 2013, 08:37:23 PM
How about SEVEN engines?

I can only think of two, the B-47 that Orenda used to flight test the Iroquois engine in Canada, and the B-52 that was used to test the CF-6 engine under an inboard wing pylon.

Now someone will come up with a NINE engine aircraft I bet!
Title: Re: Five engine aircraft
Post by: uncle les on December 27, 2013, 08:59:13 PM
Test beds n'all
http://www.lancaster-archive.com/lanc_photos_testbed.htm (http://www.lancaster-archive.com/lanc_photos_testbed.htm)

but the one in my view with a hint of whiffability extrapolation
(http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa244/ersatzfleug/1269741M_zps0aa67210.jpg)
Title: Re: Five engine aircraft
Post by: uncle les on December 27, 2013, 09:21:32 PM
How about SEVEN engines?

I can only think of two, the B-47 that Orenda used to flight test the Iroquois engine in Canada, and the B-52 that was used to test the CF-6 engine under an inboard wing pylon.

Now someone will come up with a NINE engine aircraft I bet!

err..   OK
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/1185069_10201889830149653_586025297_n.jpg)

11 if you count the Polikarpov parasites..
Title: Re: Five engine aircraft
Post by: Volkodav on December 27, 2013, 09:23:07 PM
http://www.2av8.co.uk/pages/xa903/img/olympus1.jpg (http://www.2av8.co.uk/pages/xa903/img/olympus1.jpg)
http://www.2av8.co.uk/pages/xa903/xa903c.htm (http://www.2av8.co.uk/pages/xa903/xa903c.htm)

Vulcan Olympus test bed
Title: Re: Five engine aircraft
Post by: PR19_Kit on December 28, 2013, 12:25:07 AM
How about SEVEN engines?

I can only think of two, the B-47 that Orenda used to flight test the Iroquois engine in Canada, and the B-52 that was used to test the CF-6 engine under an inboard wing pylon.

Now someone will come up with a NINE engine aircraft I bet!

err..   OK
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/1185069_10201889830149653_586025297_n.jpg)

11 if you count the Polikarpov parasites..

Oh I like that!  DO tell us more please!  :)
Title: Re: Five engine aircraft
Post by: Dr. YoKai on December 28, 2013, 09:31:58 AM
Yes, indeed - I'd love to see a few more views of this monster!

 The Kalinin K-7 was mentioned above -what about a five-engined version with bigger engines?
Title: Re: Five engine aircraft
Post by: Cliffy B on December 28, 2013, 10:00:00 AM
Test beds n'all
[url]http://www.lancaster-archive.com/lanc_photos_testbed.htm[/url] ([url]http://www.lancaster-archive.com/lanc_photos_testbed.htm[/url])

but the one in my view with a hint of whiffability extrapolation
([url]http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa244/ersatzfleug/1269741M_zps0aa67210.jpg[/url])


Why does this look like it belongs in the Luftwaffe at first glance?  I think its the sharp paint demarcation lines and the prop spinners.  Gives it a bit of a Dornier flavor until you realize its a Lanc  ;D
Title: Re: Five engine aircraft
Post by: elmayerle on December 28, 2013, 12:28:39 PM
Why do I keep thinking of a 727/737 cross with a stretched fuselage and five engines?
Yeah, quoting yourself's not a good sign, but, since Boeing used a common fuselage cross-section, how about splicing a 727 back end on a stretched 707, perhaps with winglets?  Or take it one step farther and replace the under-wing and outside-tail engines with JT8D-200's or CFM56's?
Title: Re: Five engine aircraft
Post by: PR19_Kit on December 28, 2013, 06:15:12 PM
While Boeing knew they all had similar fuselage sections the model manufacturers never seemed to grasp that fact. You'd be amazed at the number of different sections they've managed to produce. I tried to do something like that years ago using a couple of Frog 707s and an Airfix 727-100 but would they fit? NO way! I still have the wreckage somewhere, maybe I should dig it out and try again.

Actually now I think about it, they may have been two Airfix 727s and a singular Frog 707 but you get the idea.
Title: Re: Five engine aircraft
Post by: jcf on December 29, 2013, 03:53:23 AM
While Boeing knew they all had similar fuselage sections the model manufacturers never seemed to grasp that fact. You'd be amazed at the number of different sections they've managed to produce. I tried to do something like that years ago using a couple of Frog 707s and an Airfix 727-100 but would they fit? NO way! I still have the wreckage somewhere, maybe I should dig it out and try again.

Actually now I think about it, they may have been two Airfix 727s and a singular Frog 707 but you get the idea.


While the upper lobes are all basically the same, the lower lobes can differ by a great deal, and the 727 fuselage depth
is different fore and aft of the wing.

707 Airplane Characteristics, Sec. 2 Airplane Description
http://www.boeing.com/assets/pdf/commercial/airports/acaps/707sec2.pdf (http://www.boeing.com/assets/pdf/commercial/airports/acaps/707sec2.pdf) :icon_jedi:

727 Airplane Characteristics, Sec. 2 Airplane Description
http://www.boeing.com/assets/pdf/commercial/airports/acaps/727sec2.pdf (http://www.boeing.com/assets/pdf/commercial/airports/acaps/727sec2.pdf)
Title: Re: Five engine aircraft
Post by: kitnut617 on December 29, 2013, 04:13:11 AM
That's interesting Jon, there's 12" difference between the front and rear outside top to bottom on the 727, but only 10" height difference inside the cargo holds --