Why can't you put an aircraft engine in a vehicle?

Question

There must be a good reason no one does. Something like the allison V 1710 which is an old ww2 engine for air craft but they didnt do it back then either. Why ? lots of horsepower and reasonably compact, maybe not for a car but would fit in a tractor or truck.

Answer 1

In fact, they did. The Rolls Royce Merlin engine was put into boats and tanks (British PT boats, and the Meteor tank, etc.). The problem was, they didn't have enough Merlins to go around for aircraft, which needed the power to weight ratio. The U.S. licensed built the Merlin at the Packard factory, and these Packard engines are what was in the P-51D. Only one model of P-40 got the Packard engine, and that plane's statistics weren't that far below the P-51's, but they put the best engines in the best planes, and there just weren't enough Packards to go around to put them in P-40's. P-40's had to deal with Allison engines, which were good, but not as good as Merlins (Allisons gave poor performance at high altitude).



The Allison engine is a bit big for a truck, but it was a good size for a tank. The American Grant/Lee tanks also had some aircraft engines in them. As far as a tractor (or a truck for that matter) goes, you want low gear pulling power, which you get from diesel engines, not gasoline powered engines. Gasoline engines are good for high speed / performance work. So if you dropped it in a truck or tractor, then you could not pull heavy loads, which is pretty much the point of a tractor and the lion's share of uses for a truck.



A number of custom built vechicles have used aircraft engines. Merlins were highly prized as engines for speed boat racing. People have built one of a kind race cars using aircraft engines, but nothing mass produced.



On the other hand, a popular car engine has become popular for smaller "home built" aircraft - the engine from the VW Beetle. To be fair, this has a lot to do with the fact that it is air cooled.

Answer 2

The real question is why would you want to? Airplane engines are generally based on old, outdated technology. Car engines are much more advanced for 2 reasons: 1) they don't have to deal with the FAA and their certification rules and 2) more people buy cars so there is more effort put into research and development.



You could ask: Why not put an aircraft *turbine* engine in a car/truck? After all, those can generate tons of power right? Well, it's been tried and it just doesn't work very well. The problem is that cars/trucks tend to have to constantly change their speed (e.g. they have to stop at red lights). Turbine engines aren't designed for that. They are designed for going really fast... all the time.



Some tanks, however, do use aircraft engines.

Answer 3

I saw a show motorcycle once powered by an aircraft piston engine with about 3000 hp (or so it was claimed), although I don't remember the exact engine.



The Y2K motorcycle has a gas-turbine engine, and I think there is at least one other production motorcycle with such an engine.



However, most piston engines for aircraft are primitive compared to modern automobile engines. The small market and the overhead and expense involved with certification has kept airplane piston engines decades behind ground vehicle engines. It's not clear what the advantage of putting such an engine in a car would be, although from a regulatory standpoint, it's a lot easier to put an airplane engine into a car than it is to put a car engine into an airplane.

Answer 4

Aircraft engines are vastly more expensive than automobile engines, even when power and performance are comparable. You can put an aircraft engine in a car if you can afford it. An even better question would be why not put car engines in aircraft. This would allow the use of less expensive, more modern and efficient motors in aircraft. The answer is that the FAA generally does not allow it except in the experimental class. Car engines are popular in that class.



I think there are a few vehicles like converted fire trucks that have a jet engine installed for use during air shows to make a spectacle. These vehicles probably would not be street legal for obvious safety reasons. Not to mention that they probably could not pass a standard DMV safety and emissions test.

Answer 5

This Site Might Help You.



RE:

Why can't you put an aircraft engine in a vehicle?

There must be a good reason no one does. Something like the allison V 1710 which is an old ww2 engine for air craft but they didnt do it back then either. Why ? lots of horsepower and reasonably compact, maybe not for a car but would fit in a tractor or truck.

Answer 6

It has been done. But generally aircraft engines are much larger than is needed in a car. Also, many tractors and the like use diesel engines, which are not yet allowed for aircraft. In the case of the older engines, there just wasn't the need for that kind of power in the cars of the '30s and '40s. And later, the car engines produced just as much power. Aircraft engines are generally built very robustly to provide extra reliability and durability. This extra mass is just not needed in a car, so they don't use them.



But there are people that do put them into cars, boats, motorcycles or whatever as a fun project.

Answer 7

The Allison V 1710 is a pretty long engine, and while long hoods are stylish and speak of power it was a bit much for a street machine. But if memory serves right there were some Hot Rods back in the 50's and 60's that used these engines. Also some of the lake racers used them.

Keep in mind that air racers bought up most of the spare units and so the supply of these engines was a bit limited and more then likely near impossible to find right now.

Answer 8

That particular engine, as has been stated, would be impractical for road vehicle use due to its narrow power band. They've been used in racing boats, though. Look up unlimited hydroplanes to see what I'm talking about.



Incidentally, the engines in Subaru passenger cars are derived from aircraft designs. And I wish I could give multiple thumbs-up to the person who remembered the Tucker.

Answer 9

A jet engine was used once in an Indy race car. I did not work out and jet engines have since been banned.

Answer 10

some modern tanks do. abrams uses a aircraft turbine, that has to be restricted to 1,200 horse. runs on 7 different types of fuel, from diesel to kerosene, jp8 and gasoline. gets only 1 mile per 4 gallons. but holds 500 gallons.

Answer 11

Do a Google search on "Tractor Pulls" You'll see lots of old Allison engines... Sometimes even multiple engines in one chassis!

Answer 12

I'm pretty sure its' been done before. However controlling it would be really difficult. Maybe test it out on a runway? Whoever got to do that would be one lucky b@$t@rd

Answer 13

Per Popular Mechanics a long time ago, a guy put a RR Merlin in a Jag.

Answer 14

one reason is that these engines are designed be efficient in a narrow range of rpm.



besides, tractors and trucks do far better with diesel engines, that generally have better torque in low rpm. (and, are sturdier)



you can have the tractor engine conveniently tuc-tuc ing at idle, while this allison would "eat your hand"

Answer 15

The Tucker was powered by a modified helicopter engine.

Answer 16

I believe that it was done with a motorcycle.

A tv presenter said that when it tested it he melted the front bar of a car behind him.

Also, it was hard to control.

Answer 17

Probably not the type of answer you wanted but in the early '20s Renualt built a 14 litre racer.

Answer 18

This Napier Bentley is an awe inspiring sight and sound.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napier-Bentley

Answer 19

Who said you can't?



http://rebelbikers.net/poze/r1.jpg



http://www.davedragon.org/pink/radialplaneradialbike.jpg

Answer 20

You should learn how to use google...



http://www.automotivetraveler.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=333:four-one-of-a-kind-automobiles-to-appear-in-20-liter-class-at-58th-pebble-beach-concours-delegance&catid=38:auto-news&Itemid=210



...geeze.