Posted: 10/23/2007 3:45:46 PM EDT
| Seeing several threads on here about guessing what plane it is made me think of a question. In one thread the plane pictured was a DC-3 with a turbo prop conversion and 5 bladed props. Now for the question: could this conversion be done on a B-25? I always like the Mitchells and would love to see one upgraded. Thanks for any replys and thoughts on this. |
Call them and ask Never know http://www.baslerturbo.com/ |
| Im sure it can be done. Many old piston planes have been upgraded to turbos (Porter, Beaver, Otter, DC-3, Mallards and Goose's. Saying that I dont think there will ever be a turbo conversion for the Mitchell. They are relics that are too few and far between. I dont think there is a single working B-25 out there whereas the DC-3's are still working. Plus what would be the point of converting one barring the coolness factor? |
I just came in from flying Lone Star Flight Museum's B-25 "Special Delivery" this afternoon. The B-25's that are still flying are precious commodities. If there was a reason to convert one to turbo-prop it could certainly be done with enough cash. The joke in the warbird community is that anything can be done with enough cubic yards of cash. If it were converted it would not have it's antique/historical value anymore. The Wright R2600 if properly overhauled and maintained is still a pretty reliable powerplant. There will never be a turbo-prop that will have the same erectile generating sounds and vibrations of a popping/smoking/fire-breathing/testoseterone oozing radial engine. |
Should be possible. There was a turboprop conversion of the B-29, it became the B-50. |
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The B-50 was the Pratt & Whitney R4360 powered version of the B-29, not turbo-prop. There were also airframe mods and beef-ups to handle the increased gross weight of 175,000# . The B-50 had a taller vertical fin and rudder that was hydraulically boosted. Some other improvements were nosewheel steering and reversing props. |