411A - what was the nature of their reliability problems. Understand the PRT's were one source - due lubrication, metallurgy, cooling or what? Understand that at the end, once operators had learnt how to care and feed them, they gave good service. Gave long service in the Neptune.
Cooling and metallurgy, is my understanding.
PRT's generally lasted about 250 hours, and one would let go, largish torch effect out the exhaust, BMEP decrease about 20 or so, followed by mandatory engine shutdown.
Perhaps the Neptune, due to the loiter at lower altitudes, and thus lower BMEP/temperatures, had better results.
Not a Navy guy, so don't know.
And, the R4360 was mentioned above.
I flew Stratocruisers for a brief time, and the 4360 engine was
very smooth, almost turbine-like.
Used a
lot of oil, however.
And, those equipped with CurtisElectric propellors had another problem.
Hollow steel prop blades, fractures under the de-ice boot, blade separation...
bad.