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turbine power

P

passtime

Active member
now that i need to replace my kikker on my airboat i've been thinking what to repower with. first thought was the alum. block that was discussed on the aug. run at melbourne (approx. 500 hp). just the other day someone was discussing turbines on several boats over here. they are helecopter rejects(500 to 1000hp).

knowing and respecting the experence on this forum i'm reguesting input from the guru's.

thanks in advance
 
A few years back they had a real good in depth story with pics on the buildup of the twin turbine boat. It was a 30'x 15' hull if I remeber right and weighed around 6,000 lbs. It was turning 2 6 blade powershift power plus propellors! They even had a video with the boat climbing a levee with a 40 deg. slope and running all over the hill. Video looked pretty badass but the boat sounded even better!!! Wish I could find that video again.

Larry
 
Did Jim mention they were LOUD ??

Extremely loud ..... real bad loud ..... as in "awfully loud" !!

And at current prices, a 30 gallon fill-up with JP-5 will run you about $120.

BF
 
Someone is La, had one a few years ago. I was told that it didn't work well. I remember hearing stories about them taking out the docks when he crashed into them.
I also remember hearing about problems in the airboat if you stop and go all the time.
If it was just for straight runs it would be good but I was told it is no good for the constant speed changing.

I will see what else I can find out.
Good Luck,
Faron
 
idle power is considerable. You would probably need some sort of drive shaft brake. And there is throttle lag. I have a lot of time in jet airplanes, did I mention that they are loud?

Jim
 
Well Passtime

Don't fit Guru very well but if ok sense I've spent lotsa years around these things would like to pour a few things into this little box :)

An allison 250B 450hp & 220lbs is one of the more quieter ones & is used in the Bell JetRanger & other helicopters as well as several fixed wing turboprop aircraft. But the best gph I've seen is 28gph above 5000ft. At sea level figure on 35 or so @ 90-100% power.
If I could afford one today($20k+) it would be the engine I would put in an Airboat.

These engines can produce a constant 750-1000lbs tq & by using a controlable pitch prop jump it up to near double the tq for few minutes at the time. These 250's can goto over 20k hrs without overhaul & Airboaters probly wouldn't like them sense there is nothing todo to the motor :)

Good thing is they will burn anything from diesel to gasoline to free used vegitable oil from McDonalds & Hardee's. Just mix a little gas with the vegoil & bingo = JP4 :) Abt the same thing VW & Benz Diesels are using.

These engines come across ebay occasionally with 0hrs since overhaul from the military but the least price I've yet to see has been $17.5k.

The Lycoming T-53 is another quiet one but at 1050hp uses even more fuel & probly more power than needed. Garett, Boeing & GE's are all sound proud that one would not want on a boat.

If you could find a government bidder that does bids on a continous basis one of these engines could probly be had for less than maybe $10k. :)

Thats all, Gben

Btw, Pratt & Whitney PT6
 
Jim,
I to have time in jets, there is a big difference in tubojets and fanjets and tuboprops. An airboat with a turbine would be a turboprop. Most have instant spoolups. But I think it would be alot different to drive than a gas engine. The question would be the engine, gearbox, prop combo. That would effect the rate at which it winds up and down.
The bottom line is, someone would have to have alot time, money, and gas to play with one. And good hearing protection. It would be interesting.

Gbenzx
PW-120 2000hp plus
 
Faron,

I've heard the same abt what you are saying. One of these EvilKevil's killed himself against a bulkhead in Co or Nv just afew years back with some sort of turbine speed boat. :(

Folks should have better sense than to try running direct drive with a turbine engine. Imagine for fun at Ft Rucker Al we would crank up a Grumman Mohawk & with a prop in feather position hold it still with our hands even when the 1050hp turned upto 90%. If we let the prop move even 1 inch, Run Boys Run!

Most of these turbines idle @ 90% so we've only 10% for whatever one needs todo with the machine it's tied to. Direct drive I wouldn't even consider & plus one couldn't use the hi/lo tq/fuel ability without the controlable pitch propeller.

Now there is such a thing as joint owners :)

Thats all, Gben
 
I have some rotarywing time from many years ago, and the engine of choice in my day was the Lycoming T-53. They're as reliable as a stovebolt, but you would have to be an Arab to be able to buy fuel for one. And which marina was it that that kept clean JP-4 on hand ? Your wife would have to follow you around with a fuel truck!!

The spool-up time wouldn't be a problem. You'd have a $50K constant speep prop on it that you could feather to zero pitch. Leaving a marina or boat ramp would have to be done with trolling motors, otherwise you'd turn everyone and everything around you into a crispy critter.

Having said all of that, if Granny and I ever hit the right six numbers some Saturday night .... I WANT ONE !!!

BF
 
A T63A700 Allison with only 450hrsTT appeared just last nite on ebay from Flushing NY. Who would name their town Flush? The high bid was only abt 1300 or so but this am itis gone. :(

Someone cut a deal(2500 asking price) with the guy that had no idea what he had. It came from an early OH58 Jet Ranger that is being restored for a museum up there.

The 700 series were the first Allisons in the 250 series with 252hp before the 720's came along which almost doubled the hp.
The one on ebay was 317hp & 277lbs tq @ 6000 shaft output. I know it dosen't sound like much but if one could adapt as much as 4:1 or so gears & still have 1500 for paddle prop? Fuel rate is lowest known anywhere at .7lbs/perhp an hour or abt 22.5gph. 75gal tank would run abt 3.5 hrs. Engine wt 138lbs.

Also a Lyc T53 on there for abt 5500 for those with Blowing Money at 60gph or those with a restuarant using lotsa cooking oil :)

Also did anyone notice what they named the storm that went across Mexico? After, after we predicted just that? :)
Sorry Stan, I just couldn't resist it :)

Thnx, Gben
 
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