Piston Engine Reliability?

The R-4360 tended to work well in flight. On the ground it did tend to overheat. I dont think they lost that many B+36s to engine fires did they out of the total of around 360 built. The B-36 had a total accident rate of about 10%. The fire issues tended to be caused by carburator icing. This was primarily due to the lack of warm air passing over the carburator/s. One would think that P&W should of solved this issue. Did the other A/C utilizing the R-4360 have similiar issues?

To my knowledge the largest engine ever put into service that you could consider an aircraft type is the 42 cylinder Soviet Zvezda M503 used in marine applications. 4000HP deisel.
 
Really big, really powerful piston engines have issues. Sometimes, these issues are resolved.

A variant of the B-17 with Allison engine was made, but not really tested properly, nor was the B-29 with double-Allison. Other factors were at play.
A variant of the Hawker Tempest replaced the mighty 24 cyl Sabre engine with an 18 cyl 2-row Bristol Centaurus, then refined into Hawker Fury.
The post-war Wright and Bristol engines found a use powering airliners. How about the Allisons and Napiers?

BTW, the post-war Merlins which powered North Stars and Avro Tudors were specifically modified commercial engines, not war surplus.
 
Top