PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Why the dearth of faster piston-powered planes?
Old 5th Aug 2016, 08:06
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TelsBoy
 
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Not much to go wrong, in all honesty.

Unlike piston engines, in turbines everything is constantly rotating in one direction, not back-and-forth with stopping in between. Turbines are much simpler and more reliable in operation because there is less to go wrong and there is less stress on the components involved.

Think of the components in a piston engine. Big end bearings, little end bearings, crankshaft, balancers, pistons, con rods, camshaft, valves, pushrods, springs, all starting and stopping multiple times per second and moving in different directions whilst in operation.

In a turbine there are a series of turbine rotors all on one shaft constantly rotating and all in one direction. Much smoother and simpler and the reason why these engines are much more reliable.
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