Restoration of a backyard Rolls-Royce

[Blue_Tires]

During the week of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee enjoy this video of a fine example of British engineering. The engine was built 40 years ago,left active service in 1992 having spent its life attached to a TWA Lockheed L1011 Tristar. The engine was left outside for about 5 years before being rescued from the local airport and single handedly restored to running condition by myself. I am not an engineer by trade or profession and have no previous engineering experience.
It is a tribute to Rolls Royce that this very same engine that cost millions to develop and almost broke the company can be restored and run in the back garden of a family home/small-holding by an amateur mechanic. Thanks for watching.
J.Woolgar
www.jetpropulsion.co.uk

PS We tried a JT9D and a CF6 but couldn't do anything with either of them

[trof]

1. I bet the neighbors enjoyed that. But seriously...

I flew Rolls on the L-1011 for TWA. It was a good engine.
Later, I flew GEs on the B-747.
That was a GREAT engine!

[Blue_Tires]

2. I was wondering if it was something you would have once used

I'm glad that RR has life again, if even on a stand at idle...Maybe some museum or university test lab will take it, since the crew in the video said the engine had a lot of it's service life remaining...I'm even more impressed with the dedication/insanity it took for them to see that thing rotting in storage and say "What the hell? Let's make it operational again!"

http://www.airliners.net/aviation-forums/tech_ops/read.main/323794/#menu27

[trof]

3. Yeah, amazing undertaking.

My hat's off to them.

[trof]

4. Funny story about the RR jet engine:

Many years ago a so-too-terribly-knowledgeable friend took a European vacation.
He was going on about what a great flight he had back.
"What airplane was it?"
"It was a Rolls Royce. Finest airplane in the world. Just like their cars. Smoothest flight I ever had"
"Uh...Carl? Rolls Royce doesn't make airplanes."
"Hell yeah they DO! It said it right there on the side of the engine."

[Major Nikon]

5. I've seen a few former aircraft engines adapted to other uses

Jay Leno has a turbine powered motorcycle. I've also seen old radial engines adapted to cars and motorcycles.

[rhett o rick]

8. I dont think the motorcycle in the picture is turbine powered. nm

[Major Nikon]

9. It's a radial engine

This is Jay Leno's turbine powered motorcycle.

[rhett o rick]

11. "Exactly, exactly". I wouldnt be comfortable with a turbine running between my legs. nm

[MiddleFingerMom]

13. Cool animation of how a radial engine works -- on the next page is an explanation...

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.
.
... that gives some insight into why they're popular on custom bikes -- very powerful,
lower RPM's, and very suited for air-cooling. That next page explains how Harley's
basic two-cylinder engine is designed like two of the cylinders on a much bigger
radial engine anyway.
.
.
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http://science.howstuffworks.com/transport/engines-equipment/radial-engine2.htm
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Google "radial engine" on a GIS and you'll see several bikes -- including ones with the
engine mounted sideways (looking something like another wheel).
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.

[hunter]

14. I like this wikipedia animation...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radial_engine

[kentauros]

6. Seeing videos like that

always reminds me of Survival Research Laboratories pulse-jet test:

[Blue_Tires]

12. holy damn!

[rhett o rick]

7. What MPG does it get? nm

[whistler162]

10. Smores for everyone!

cool.