David Womby Posted September 28, 2012 Share Posted September 28, 2012 (edited) Looking at KA114 the wonderful Kiwi flying Mossie, I was reminded that I had wondered about this for years. So: Merlin engined Spitfires, Hurricanes and Lancasters all had/have 6 tube exhausts - why not the Mosquito? Is it because the 6th one would be too close to the wooden wing for safety? David Edited September 28, 2012 by David Womby Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edgar Posted September 28, 2012 Share Posted September 28, 2012 They did, when they fitted the longer Merlins in the later Marks. On early Marks, they had to keep the exhaust well away from the wooden structure, so 5 & 6 were combined into one. Edgar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woody37 Posted September 28, 2012 Share Posted September 28, 2012 Good question, Always wondered that myself. Thanks Edgar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turnerdad Posted September 29, 2012 Share Posted September 29, 2012 Was wondering that myself while watching the footage of the engine run, thanks peeps! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
feropete Posted September 30, 2012 Share Posted September 30, 2012 (edited) Edgar said: "On early Marks, they had to keep the exhaust well away from the wooden structure, so 5 & 6 were combined into one." Aussies musn't be very smart or must have used more heat resistant wood . Their local equivalent of the F.B.VI, the F.B.40 used six stub exhausts on the outboard of the nacelles. Five stub exhausts were used on the inboard side of the nacelles. I always understood that the sixth exhaust was doubled up with the fifth to make five stub exhausts as the sixth stub would have intruded into the radiator intake on the inboard side of the engine nacelles. There was just no room for a six pack exhaust. Note how close to the radiator intake the last stub is. BTW, the radiator housing is metal, not wood. Five stub exhausts on an F.B.VI. The Poms, being the smart little cookies they are, obviously standardised and also used five stub exhausts outboard. We Aussies like to do it OUR way , so we used a six stub exhaust outboard. Six stub exhausts on an F.B.40 F.B.40. Six out, five in. Cheers, Peter M Edited September 30, 2012 by feropete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Cox Posted September 30, 2012 Share Posted September 30, 2012 (edited) Hi All, Here are some pictures of more FB.40 Mosquito aircraft; Cheers, Daniel. Edited September 30, 2012 by Daniel Cox Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Fleming Posted October 1, 2012 Share Posted October 1, 2012 Daniel, as yours flew upside down, the exhaust gases would not have interfered with the radiator as they went up... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephenMG Posted October 1, 2012 Share Posted October 1, 2012 (edited) Edgar said: "On early Marks, they had to keep the exhaust well away from the wooden structure, so 5 & 6 were combined into one." Aussies musn't be very smart or must have used more heat resistant wood . Their local equivalent of the F.B.VI, the F.B.40 used six stub exhausts on the outboard of the nacelles. Five stub exhausts were used on the inboard side of the nacelles. I always understood that the sixth exhaust was doubled up with the fifth to make five stub exhausts as the sixth stub would have intruded into the radiator intake on the inboard side of the engine nacelles. There was just no room for a six pack exhaust. Note how close to the radiator intake the last stub is. BTW, the radiator housing is metal, not wood. Peter, you are absolutely correct of course. The fact is there is physically no room for 6 on the inboard side of the engine because of the radiator housings, so the rearmost 2 stubs were combined. I believe it most likely that British-built aircraft used the same arrangement on the outboard sides of the engines purely for standardisation's sake. As the Aussie aircraft show, there is no reason why 6 couldn't be used if required. Even with 6 stubs it's not that close to the wing. So I've never given the 'keep heat away from the wood' theory much credibility to be honest, much like the theory that the stiffening member over the rear equipment hatch on the starboard side of the fuse was actually a gutter! I know that one to be 100% wrong! On the 2-stage Merlin engined aircraft there were 6 on all sides because the longer nacelle meant there was room to accomodate them. Edited October 1, 2012 by StephenMG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Posted October 2, 2012 Share Posted October 2, 2012 I had heard that the reason was to keep the engine exhaust gases from being sucked into the radiator and reducing the engine cooling. Just my 2p from the (alledgedly) wet coast of Canada. We just broke a 105 yr old record for the least amount of rain. Cheers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Radpoe Spitfire Posted October 3, 2012 Share Posted October 3, 2012 (edited) Edgar said: "On early Marks, they had to keep the exhaust well away from the wooden structure, so 5 & 6 were combined into one." Aussies musn't be very smart or must have used more heat resistant wood . Their local equivalent of the F.B.VI, the F.B.40 used six stub exhausts on the outboard of the nacelles. Five stub exhausts were used on the inboard side of the nacelles. I always understood that the sixth exhaust was doubled up with the fifth to make five stub exhausts as the sixth stub would have intruded into the radiator intake on the inboard side of the engine nacelles. There was just no room for a six pack exhaust. Note how close to the radiator intake the last stub is. BTW, the radiator housing is metal, not wood. Five stub exhausts on an F.B.VI. The Poms, being the smart little cookies they are, obviously standardised and also used five stub exhausts outboard. We Aussies like to do it OUR way , so we used a six stub exhaust outboard. Six stub exhausts on an F.B.40 F.B.40. Six out, five in. Cheers, Peter M Ah Peter, just think of the weight penalty & excess use of raw materials with that extra stub- they forgot about that one Edited October 3, 2012 by Radpoe Spitfire Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpine_modeller Posted October 3, 2012 Share Posted October 3, 2012 Looking at KA114 the wonderful Kiwi flying Mossie, I was reminded that I had wondered about this for years. So: Merlin engined Spitfires, Hurricanes and Lancasters all had/have 6 tube exhausts - why not the Mosquito? Is it because the 6th one would be too close to the wooden wing for safety? David Woah, have i missed something ? I have been following the Mosquito Restoration page on Facebook for about two years - is KA114 really flying again now ??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Womby Posted October 3, 2012 Author Share Posted October 3, 2012 Woah, have i missed something ? I have been following the Mosquito Restoration page on Facebook for about two years - is KA114 really flying again now ??? You really missed it? She flew last week and did a stint at an NZ airshow this past weekend. There are plenty of videos online but I just discovered this one which is rather cute: David PS - there's an Anson flying in NZ now too. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tango India Mike Posted October 3, 2012 Share Posted October 3, 2012 Another variation... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Womby Posted October 3, 2012 Author Share Posted October 3, 2012 Oh now that's one I've never seen before. What mark is it and why two pipes only? D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tango India Mike Posted October 3, 2012 Share Posted October 3, 2012 A Mk VI, I think, in some stills I took from a post-war R.A.F. training film titled 'No Alibis'. Aircraft serial is TA603. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miggers Posted October 3, 2012 Share Posted October 3, 2012 I really,really,really do hope she makes it onto the European airshow circuit next summer on her way to the 'States. She'd be a real joy to behold and hear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpine_modeller Posted October 3, 2012 Share Posted October 3, 2012 You really missed it? She flew last week and did a stint at an NZ airshow this past weekend. There are plenty of videos online but I just discovered this one which is rather cute: David PS - there's an Anson flying in NZ now too. Wow, thanks for that. I missed it completely because I have been recuperating from surgery. The first pass in that vid brought a tear to my eye. Damn, hope I get to see a flying Mossie one day.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Radpoe Spitfire Posted October 8, 2012 Share Posted October 8, 2012 You really missed it? She flew last week and did a stint at an NZ airshow this past weekend. There are plenty of videos online but I just discovered this one which is rather cute: David PS - there's an Anson flying in NZ now too. Blimey!!!!!!! what a lump in the throat moment that was to see a Mossie airborne again- even though I only saw the film clip like time lapse photography( my works pc limitations ) I was awstruck to see it. Thanks for the link. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Test Graham Posted October 19, 2012 Share Posted October 19, 2012 Later Canadian ones had the six outboard too - presumably they had five inboard but i wasn't aware of that. Obvious really, but does lead to extra spares stock required. "Sorry mate, haven't got a 6-by starboard outer. Lots of port inners but they're only 5-by so no good for you?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flankerman Posted October 19, 2012 Share Posted October 19, 2012 Going off at a slight tangent........ The wartime Soviet Petlyakov Pe-9 heavy bomber, powered by the AM-35 inline engine had 5 exhaust stacks on both sides of all the engines EXCEPT the outside of the inner engines - which had six stacks!! The last two ports (5 & 6) were combined into a single stack on the inside inner engine and both sides of the outer engine. I have no idea why...... maybe cabin heating ?? Check out the Zvezda kit (the AM-35 one, not the latest one or the Amodel kit - with ASh-82 radials)... Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Test Graham Posted October 20, 2012 Share Posted October 20, 2012 The Russians used exhaust gas in their fuel tanks as a fire-suppressant, so could that be where it came from? Not a reason for the Mosquito. British aircraft used a separate pipe embedded in the exhaust for heating purposes, and this can be seen on certain Spitfires and Halifaxes - perhaps others but I'm not familiar with those. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Aero Posted October 20, 2012 Share Posted October 20, 2012 (edited) Oh now that's one I've never seen before. What mark is it and why two pipes only? D Those two pipe exhausts are the type known as "saxophone". there were a whole range developed for the Merlin. The reason you don't see them is they are normally covered by the bulbous night anti glare fairings which have been removed from that a/c. Note the shape of the exhaust stain. Sea Hornets NF21's had a setup with four stacks IIRC. On the short single stage Merlins the exhaust gasses could be sucked into the rads due to the airflow close to the rad lips. John Edited October 20, 2012 by John Aero Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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