General Aviation
A Reciprocating
Look at Radials
Radials have been pronounced dead countless times, but they refuse to
go the way of the extinct Dodo. Attribute much of their survival to a love
affair.”
BY DALE SMITH
M
aybe the onset of middle Staying Power “We do a lot of engines for the war-
age has made me soft heart- There are three main reasons why radi- bird community and aerial firefight-
ed, but I appreciate that als still are part of our flying lives: ers – especially Canadian operators,
some things just refuse to go away. • Radials and the airplanes although we have some U.S.-based
Take radial engines. Back in the late they power were made by radial engine firefighters still flying,”
1950s, when my father was flying for the hundreds of thousands; says Bob Dalton, product support
Pan American, the Boeing 707 was • They were built amazingly manager for Precision Engines. “There
the rage, and the radial engine was strong; and are quite a few freight operators.”
predicted to go the way of the Dodo. • People around the world “Alaska is probably the premier
“Jets are the future young man…” love and give tender loving American freight operator still using
Yes, jet engines do the job, but care to these venerable air radials,” he adds. “Overseas operators
they lack the romance. Countless craft. are also active with radials. We send
jets can come and go with little It takes a special breed of engine several engines overseas each year.”
notice. But let the air be filled with technician to keep today’s fleet of radi- “Most of them are flying in DC-3s.
the deep, throaty rumble of a Jake, al engines flying. Aviation Maintenance There are some DC-4s and -6s, and we
Wright or Pratt and every true avia- talked with two of the largest radi- still support an operator in Australia
tor will stop to take a lustful look. al engine specialty shops, Precision flying twin-engine [de Havilland]
The whir of blades, the belch of blue Engines LLC, Everett, Wash., and Caribous,” says Dalton. “The DC-3
smoke and the roar: it makes one’s Radial Engines Ltd., Guthrie, Okla., to will probably outlive us all.”
heart quicken. get a feel for the present and future of Steve Curry, president of Radial
radial engines. Engines, reports that the largest group
26 Aviation Maintenance |
avmain-mag.com | Oct/Nov2009
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