It's an auxillary power unit (APU) as used on medium to large U.S. aircraft during the war and later. They were gasoline powered and were used to charge aircraft batteries and help start the engines. The one below has been moved from below the floor and placed forward by the radio inside this C-46 Commando as they had a habit of catching fire.
It was also used in the DC-3/C-47 Dakota and probably many other American/Allied large aircraft types including bombers and flying boats. It was something like this that caused the B-29 'Kee Bird' recovery disaster back in the early 90's.
Regards, Ned.
'I do not think we can hope for any better thing now.
We shall stick it out to the end, but we are getting weaker of course, and the end cannot be far.
It seems a pity, but I do not think I can write more. R. SCOTT.
Last Entry - For God's sake look after our people.'
In memory of Capt. Robert Falcon Scott, Edward Wilson, Henry Bowers, Lawrence Oates and Edgar Evans. South Pole Expedition, 30th March 1912.
that was sickening after all that work Ned.
WOW Big Ned you are an endless fountain of knowledge , thanks so much for your time and effort, keep up the good work mate
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WOW Big Ned you are an endless fountain of knowledge , thanks so much for your time and effort, keep up the good work mate
In Lancasters, they supposedly used a variant of a 500cc Triumph motorcycle engine with a lightweight head. (alloy).
These heads are like rocking horse sh%t, and were used by racers after the war.
Quote :
"One product was a portable electrical generator set powered by a detuned version of the 500cc Speed twin engine. The generator unit was designed to be carried by Lancaster bombers for in-flight battery charging. Its cylinder head and block were cast in aluminium alloy. Both castings featured square-sided cooling fins to mount the generator unit’s sheet metal shroud. The lightweight head and block were later used with modification on the Triumph factory’s first post-war road racer, the 500cc Grand Prix, as well as the first TR5 Trophy."
Gary J.
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