To: Paper Tiger
5000 hp ? Pah, a mere stripling. 4360-20 7000 HP, 7200 with injection
Here are the only 4360 models listed on the R-4360 web site along with their respective power output. There is no –20 listed. I checked the air race mods for this engine and although it was used on several different aircraft in the air races there was no listing of a 7000 HP engine. Where did you get your info?
R-4360-4A: 3,000 hp (2236 kW) R-4360-4W: 3,000 hp (2236 kW) R-4360-35: 3,500 hp (2610 kW) R-4360-41: 3,500 hp (2610 kW) R-4360-59B: 3,500 hp (2610 kW) R-4360-63A: 3,800 hp (2834 kW)
I know that injection increases horsepower by increasing the volumetric efficiency of the engine but doubling the designed horsepower is a bit of a stretch. However I have been wrong before.
Although it was stated above that the XR-7755 was built to power the B-36 it was my understanding that it was built for a single seat fighter that resembled a P-47 on steroids. The engine was mounted behind the pilot much like the Aircobra. The aircraft was to be built in the Fisher Body Bomber plant in Cleveland, Ohio. On one test flight (before the cancellation of the program) the aircraft augured in and pushed the pilot or what remained of the pilot 30 some feet into the ground.
