Alvis Leonides

[MichiScholz]

Hi all,

a fellow bougt such an Alvis Leonides engine - dont know for what kind of purpose - but he has only very few information and documentation about this engine.

Can anybody provide some Information, maintanance material and so on or give me a hint where I can get this information?

Thanks in advance

Michael

[Fareastdriver]

Did he buy a helicopter or a plank version? It was used in the Bristol Sycamore and Westland built versions of the S55/Whirlwind. Fixed wing was the Provost TI, Pioneer, Twin Pioneer, Pembroke plus a couple of others.

3,000 Rpm, +8lbs (32" MAP) boost was full chat on the Provost T1 and the Sycamore, having flown both.

There are Provost T1s and a Pembroke still flying so they should have the maintenance paperwork.

[vfr440]

[QUOTE=MichiScholz;9462405]
a fellow bougt such an Alvis Leonides engine - dont know for what kind of purpose - but he has only very few information and documentation about this engine.

Can anybody provide some Information, maintanance material and so on or give me a hint where I can get this information?

That'll be interesting! Is it one with a cartridge (bang) starter or the 'modern' one with an electric start capability? Either way what does he intend to use it for? and trust he has plenty of oil to hand since I believe these engines ran on a total-loss oil system :O - VFR

[NutLoose]

Yes, suggestions are you ask in the Flypast forums http://forum.keypublishing.com/forumdisplay.php?4-Historic-Aviation

and also
Horizon Aircraft Services - Aircraft and Engine Maintenance (http://www.horizonaircraft.co.uk/) who are based at St Athans and have a Pembroke I believe.



As you are in Austria, closer to home Red Bull operate a Sycamore that has Leonidies in it

http://www.flyingbulls.at/en/events-stories/news/bristol-171-sycamore/

[Stanwell]

A beautiful engine - even if they do use a bit of oil.
We have a Twin Pin still active down here in Oz and, if you can't get your answers on here, I'll go see what I can find out for you.
For those hankering for the sound of a pair of Leonides on take-off, there's a clip on the 'tube of you' that'll give you a fix.
Look under 'Twin Pioneer at Wedderburn'.
.

[sycamore]

F-E-D,maths...32"=+1 lb; +8lb=46"MAP..

[rog747]

i think the HP herald prototype had 4 of them fitted at first

[Non-Driver]

When I was in plank mechanic school (very traditional UK, on the banks of the Crane) we had one of these for wire-locking practice, bloody stuff was everywhere on it.

**correction, ours was the "Major" 14-cyl version**

[heli1]

Your friend needs to say whether this is a Leonides or Leonides Major and if it is fixed wing or helicopter version.Differences between these will narrow down the manual required....

[Fareastdriver]

F-E-D,maths...32"=+1 lb; +8lb=46"MAP..

With numbers like that no wonder I had so much trouble remembering. There was a discussion on this a few years ago. I had my facts right then.

[MichiScholz]

Unfortunately I do not have any further information about the type yet. I try to get some basic information or pictures from him to identify the engine.

[Fareastdriver]

If it was a 14 cylinder version it would not have been for a helicopter. They had enough trouble lifting the 7 cylinder version.

[Pofman]

FED the Leonides Major in the Whirlwind Mk 7 & 8 had a double bank radial with 14 cylinders producing about 750 HP. In the Mk 7 it was cartridge start, the RRPM were 213, normal max manifold was 44" but up to 46" (if my memory serves me well)in the tropics. However, with a MAW of 7800 lbs it really struggled in the tropics, with 4 troops if you were lucky into a clearing. Coming out required patience and very smooth handling( + a bit of luck).

[MichiScholz]

The engine is from a fixed wing aircraft - a Pembroke as I know now. Thank you for all the information yet, although ist a FW engine maybe somebody has some manuals, any help would be welcome. The engine should be displayed (running) next may on a companies anniversary.

[I16]

Nice page of advertisements in the August 30, 1958. Illustrated London News, page number 326
Scottish Aviation, Alvis Limited, Westland Aircraft Limited. No tech details but very good sketches.

[I16]

Hi Matthias
We are still operating an Alvis Leonides in a Percival Provost.
These engines are not used by many aircraft. The same basic engine was used in the Percival Prince with some fuel system differences. Also in the Percival Provost but with different back cover for ancilliaries and different oilways for inverted flight. The Twin Pioneer is different gearing, stroke and you cannot convert these engines. If I remember correctly the German Bundeswehr had Dowty Rotol Propellers unlike the RAF Pembrokes which had deHavilland props. Do you still have the engines and the propellers?
Andrew Edie
[email protected]


I saved this from a website back in 2005 - someone had nine for sale.

[kaitakbowler]

There's a Piston Provost at Old Warden, as they do the maintenance I guess they have the info.

PM

[NutLoose]

And a pembroke looked after at the link I gave for wales.

[Brent 1]

I think I have a manual for this engine but for series 1 whirlwind in my dads loft saved it many years ago from the skip. ITs together with the s58t,Wessex, whirlwind, s61, and 212 training notes. ( that makes me feel old) but the last two were a lot better than some of the modern stuff I am now working on. If you want the manual I will look it out. Stace how are you lost your email address.

[Palma]

Our Westland Widgeon, G-ANLW, has an Alvis Leonides 521/2 nine cylinder engine. The helicopter disappears in a cloud of black smoke on start-up....

[Fareastdriver]

The Provost T1 used to disappear with a big bang and a cloud of smoke.