Steam powered plane

AKBill

AKBill

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AKBill
Never thought about a steam powered plane. They did back in 1933.
220px-TravelAir2000SteamDriven1933.png


1933: George D. Besler and William J. Besler's prototype steam biplane, based on a Travel Air 2000, flew several times at Oakland airport. It was powered by a two-cylinder, 150 hp (110 kW) double-expansion V-twin reciprocating engine weighing about 500 lb (230 kg), designed by the Doble Steam Motors Company and Besler.[7][8] and was capable of STOL operation due to the ease of reversing the thrust.[9][10]
STOL operation by reversing the engine...:rolleyes:
 
Did the copilot have to shovel the coal for the boiler? Inquiring minds want to know.

" I dannae is she can take any more, Captain!"
 
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On April 1st, a few years ago, someone published a fake press release from Diamond Aircraft announcing a coal powered version of the DA42. At the time the company had been announcing progressively more ambitious projects with alternative fuels powering their airframes while the owners were struggling with getting support for the aircraft they already had (the Thielert engine debacle).
 
GRG55 said:
Did the copilot have to shovel the coal for the boiler? Inquiring minds want to know.

" I dannae is she can take any more, Captain!"
Click to expand...
Not sure I think it was a diesel fueled boiler..:)
 
I think back in 1916 the German military was working on a steam powered airplane.

After building the first one, it was tested. Turned out it was too heavy to fly.

The builder was Baron Maximillian Van Gross, now more recognized for his contributions on discovering how to determine the total amount of weight something can carry..... known as Max Gross Weight.....



th


(this is a joke for those that know less...)
 
Bill Lear (of Learjet fame) was working on a steam power system. Rumor at the time said he intended to try it in an airplane. He passed away before it was developed to any significant degree. It used a closed system possibly using some refrigerant-type liquid instead of water. The condensers would be built into the wing leading edges, functioning also as anti-ice devices.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Lear
 
Gustav Whitehead used a steam-driven airplane to fly across the Atlantic ahead of the Wright Brothers first flight.
 
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