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Lancaster engine nacelles questions

Hi all,

Some questions about the Lancaster nacelles.

Does anyone know if the inboard nacelles are wider than the outboard ones? Or are all four engine cowlings
identical and interchangeable?

Cheers
Cees

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By: FarlamAirframes - 11th November 2015 at 17:49

Due to differing opinions on this – I thought I would confuse the issue with some facts.

Please find the Lancaster drawings for IB and OB at the join with the wing and firewall..

As you can see the OB has the cranked bottom edge that extends into the front nacelle and so although the engines may be interchangeable the nacelles must be different at least at this rear join.

Of course this is just my opinion and any engineer with experience of the Lancaster is better suited to reply than me

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By: Arabella-Cox - 11th November 2015 at 06:44

How about Casa 2.111 cowlings ? They look the part, but are they type specific ?

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By: Eddie - 11th November 2015 at 01:03

The Lanc power plants (power eggs) were interchangeable. Forward of the firewall they could be mounted on any engine position though each was equipped differently with hyd pumps, etc, to serve different services/positions on the aircraft.

The cowlings are certainly different ahead of the firewall.

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By: Graham Boak - 10th November 2015 at 23:04

Yes, the Luftwaffe did. So did RR. I suspect (but don’t know) that Bristol did too with the Hercules.

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By: Arabella-Cox - 10th November 2015 at 21:50

The Lanc power plants (power eggs) were interchangeable. Forward of the firewall they could be mounted on any engine position though each was equipped differently with hyd pumps, etc, to serve different services/positions on the aircraft.

Rearward from the firewalls the inner and outer nacelles were completely different – for obvious reasons.

Anon.

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By: FarlamAirframes - 10th November 2015 at 19:34

Graham the luftwaffe used the kraftei pod concept.

The lancaster inner has a straight joint at the firewall. The outer has a crank at the lower part of the firewall.

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By: Graham Boak - 10th November 2015 at 18:28

I thought that they were all “power eggs” and hence (theoretically) interchangeable with Beaufighters, Wellingtons etc.? Aft of the firewall is another matter, of course.

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By: Eddie - 10th November 2015 at 18:23

The outer ones are, I believe, Beaufighter II cowlings. Hence the otherwise inexplicable crank in the firewall.

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By: FarlamAirframes - 10th November 2015 at 16:16

I was looking through the drawings last month to identify a cowl section which is why I noticed they were different.

Not to mention the lower sections that have differences inner and outer for the wheels on the inner only.

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By: brewerjerry - 10th November 2015 at 15:42

How and why? Extra bits on one set of engines?

Hi
I am pretty sure it was just because the inner nacelle/wing was originally designed for the manchester ( vulture engines)
and then just mod’d the nacelle design when the merlins fitted for lancasters
cheers
jerry

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By: steve611 - 10th November 2015 at 14:20

How and why? Extra bits on one set of engines?

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By: FarlamAirframes - 10th November 2015 at 13:39

inner and outer are different!

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