T-34 engine

[BigIron]

If memory serves, doesn't the T-34 have a PT6 turboprop?

Check out this getup...

 

[Cobra Commander]

Canadians.

I should have known.

 

[Fly Navy]

Yeah, there are several variations of the PT6 out there too.

 

[doubledeuce]

PT6A-68 is the T-6 engine. If it is a real photo, what's the purpose? Testing? Back-taxiing? Just looking like a BAMF?

 

[Penguin]

The text under the photo says engine test bed for P/W.

 

[dodge]

Checking for the prop retaining bolts on preflight must be a huge pain in the a$$...

 

[HAL Pilot]

Checking for the prop retaining bolts on preflight must be a huge pain in the a$$...

I've flow over a couple thousand hours with PT-6s on 3 different types of aircraft. I haven't checked for a "prop retaining bolt" yet.

 

[BrianUSMC]

HAPLs must be a blast!.... FEATHER, FEATHER!

 

[BigIron]

The text under the photo says engine test bed for P/W.

Apparently it is. Here's another pic with jet engine attached to the side of the flightdeck.

 

[Gatordev]

PT6A-68 is the T-6 engine.

That's one of many different models of the PT-6. The word I got regarding the PT-6 was that it orginally was an oil pipeline pump engine and was designed to run for days at a time. Someone would come along every so often and check the oil and top it off and then it would continue to run. Apparently someone was looking for a small lightweight engine to put on an airplane and thought the PT-6 (or whatever it was called) made sense. This is, in part, why it's installed backwards, since it originally was not meant to go on an aircraft.

 

[HighDimension]

That's one of many different models of the PT-6. The word I got regarding the PT-6 was that it orginally was an oil pipeline pump engine and was designed to run for days at a time. Someone would come along every so often and check the oil and top it off and then it would continue to run. Apparently someone was looking for a small lightweight engine to put on an airplane and thought the PT-6 (or whatever it was called) made sense. This is, in part, why it's installed backwards, since it originally was not meant to go on an aircraft.

Heard the same story in my Turbines class. Same engine used in the King Air, right?

 

[Gatordev]

Yup. And the Starship, the Caravan, the Pilatusessessses, Turbo Malibus, Beach 1900s, etc, etc.

 

[Flash]

Planes are used as testbeds for a lot of things:

http://www.aerospace-technology.com/projects/airbus_a380/airbus_a3808.html

http://www.boeing.com/news/releases/1999/photorelease/photo_release_990311n.htm

http://www.aerospaceweb.org/question/propulsion/propfan/propfan2.jpg

 

[BigIron]

Planes are used as testbeds for a lot of things:

http://www.aerospace-technology.com/projects/airbus_a380/airbus_a3808.html

http://www.boeing.com/news/releases/1999/photorelease/photo_release_990311n.htm

http://www.aerospaceweb.org/question/propulsion/propfan/propfan2.jpg

Obviously those lateral CG issues must have woked out somehow.

 

[jai5w4]

Planes are used as testbeds for a lot of things

Like frickin' 747's with frickin' laser beams attached to their heads...

and planes for testing the laser... One big-ass target/fake missile for the laser to lock on to...

photo credit: Steven Lewis

and this was a new one on me: Helo-borne laser...