It's not an American engine and there is an aircraft attached to it.

Is it used for propulsion or is it some type of auxiliary power unit?

It provides power for propulsion

That's a very careful answer, how about something along the lines of an Alvis Leonides in the Fairey Gyrodyne?

You're going in the right direction

I'm baffled. This is the best I've got:


http://i1047.photobucket.com/albums/.../ken_blimp.jpg

Interesting but that's got wings..
Different angle..
http://i1024.photobucket.com/albums/...pse60d6165.jpg

Appears to be similar in layout to an earlier Von Baumhauer design, or even perhaps a Fletner design. Still baffled.

Fletner is very close but on the other side of the fence.
There is a clue in the background, one of his later designs.

Is the engine a BMW Bramo, for use in the Focke Achgelis FA223?

Engine type eludes me, can't find what is despite lots of googling.
It dates from 1932 and was designed in Austria but soon left it.

http://i1024.photobucket.com/albums/...psb53a97b4.jpg

The Hafner R.II?
http://i1047.photobucket.com/albums/...t/hafnerR2.gif

Check out this video of the Hafner & Nagler R.II Revoplane: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIt1XnZJZKY

Quite correct.
It's a long forgotten pioneer but still exists, sat in the Helicopter Museum on Weston Super Mare airfield.
The connection with Weston being that Raoul Hafner become chief designer for Bristol who occupied the far side of the airfield.
The YouTube video was a good find, I now know what the weird side panels were for.
YHC

Thank you. That was a very interesting challenge.

Here is the next one:
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r...ps9dfce888.jpg

Looks like a twin Adour installation to me, perhaps on a display team jet?

Mitsubishi F1?

Or a T2?
Rather similar tail ends

The photo is a Mitsubishi T-2, the tail configuration is nearly identical to the F-1.

Kitbag did identify the RR Turbomeca Adour type engine, which was produced under license in Japan and known as the Ishikawa-Harima TF40-801A.

Zaxis is correct. He has control.

More bent metal...
What's this?
http://i1024.photobucket.com/albums/...ps77d5c2d0.jpg

I've stared at this for ages in vain so I'm stabbing in the dark with the Lunar Landing Research Vehicle