RB211 Ground run, possibly historic?

Check out Adrian bennets site too if you like this sort of thing
Www.jetpower.co.uk

Absolutely spiffin.
He looks like he has plenty of room around and a few scorchio trees.
Extremely interesting project.
Do you think his wife gave him a rocke t ?:p

I’m halfway through reading the blog (saved as a favourite). I agree, absolutely fascinating. There are some people that are just tuned in to be able to do this sort of work. Fantastic stuff.

Absolutely fascinating blog, well worth a read. What impresses me even more though, is how he manages to combine all that work on his engine collection with a career in vascular surgery. As a fellow member of the little club in Lincoln’s Inn Fields he has my utmost respect!!

…and my sincere and utmost respect too, the blog is amazing, this guy exemplifies what many of us are only dreaming of achieving…

Absolutely fascinating blog, well worth a read. What impresses me even more though, is how he manages to combine all that work on his engine collection with a career in vascular surgery. As a fellow member of the little club in Lincoln’s Inn Fields he has my utmost respect!!

MerlinPete, trying to send you a PM, but your box is full.

Done!

Pete

Their only apparent mistake was making it public for others to see and criticise! 😉

Yep, the last thread on engine running went the same way (worse actually!), I can see why people get reluctant about discussing projects etc on a forum.

MerlinPete, trying to send you a PM, but your box is full.

Perhaps oskar means RSI of the wrist. Maybe best not to go there.!!

Rob

How do they get badly hurt festering in front of their computer??

blahhh…

I WOULDN’T STAND THAT CLOSE TO THAT BEAST EVEN WHEN IT WAS WINDING DOWN, BUT YOU HAVE TO APPLAUD THESE PEOPLE. I’M SURE IT WASN’T EASY TO GET THAT LOT WORKING AND SOME THRUSTING NETS ARE PROBABLY ON THE WAY.

THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE GET BADLY HURT JUST FESTERING IN FRONT OF THEIR COMPUTER OR DOING A BIT OF DIY.

MOST PEOPLE HAVEN’T GOT THE TECHNICAL ABILITY TO DO THINGS LIKE THIS – ITS FANTASTIC TO SEE THAT SOME PEOPLE STILL HAVE A BIT OF IMAGINATION.

“IN THE GAME OF LIFE, THE MAN WITH THE BIGGEST ENGINE WINS” – THIS LOT MUST BE ON THE PODIUM. I WANT ONE.

jet

I really don’t know, I haven’t been and inspected it. EDIT: I wouldn’t know then either. I was simply pointing out that the person who posted that clip on YouTube assumed that it was a bird strike, which it wasn’t. There seem to be plenty of people making assumptions about that engine run, I’m not, I wasn’t there.

Pete

I haven’t inspected it either but common sense tells me that there is no strength in in that frame for sideways movement in the event of failure by a blade or couple of wood pigeons:D and I dont think the cemented struts at the back of the frame would stop that Mother if you gave it a bit to much power, in fact they would be better if they were cemented down at the front to stop the whole lot going forward. btw what is the thrust of that engine?
But I do applaud them for getting it up and running.

Just found Justins website about his RB211, looks like a lot of hard work has gone into it.

http://jetpropulsion.co.uk/jet-engine-projects/rolls-royce-rb-211-22b

Edit
in respect to the stand apparently some things are being changed before future runs

I really don’t know, I haven’t been and inspected it. EDIT: I wouldn’t know then either. I was simply pointing out that the person who posted that clip on YouTube assumed that it was a bird strike, which it wasn’t. There seem to be plenty of people making assumptions about that engine run, I’m not, I wasn’t there.

Pete

jet

That`s not a bird strike, it`s an explosive blade-off test which ensures the engine stays within the powerplant cowling, which it did.

Pete

And you think the rig the RB-211 is on would hold it down if that happened to
it?

The ‘brothers Bennett’ (the red-headed chappies) are pretty well known for their expertise with gas turbines … not sure whether one or both work or worked for RR in Filton, but they certainly aren’t cowboys when it comes to running these things up. They are pretty whizz at designing and making up the control gear needed to start and run gas turbines 😎

I recall, several years ago talking at length with Ian about a Rover AAPP engine I was considering buying, and the sort and amount of work he was recommending before even dry cycling the engine was way beyond what I was happy being capable of in my workshop.

The clip has the following caption underneath it, I dont know the relationship between Ian Bennett you quote above but the work is claimed by a J Woolgar who lists himself as not having any previous engineering experience?

The engine was left outside for about 5 years before being rescued from the local airport and single handedly restored to running condition by myself. I am not an engineer by trade or profession and have no previous engineering experience.
It is a tribute to Rolls Royce that this very same engine that cost millions to develop and almost broke the company can be restored and run in the back garden of a family home/small-holding by an amateur mechanic. Thanks for watching.
J.Woolgar

As for the RB211 stand being concreted in … if you look carefully, you will see at the rear of the engine a pair of support struts that run diagonally out and appear to be attached to metal angle concreted into the pad. Seems a sensible way of doing it otherwise how the hell are you ever going to move the engine again if the stand is set in? :rolleyes:

I had missed those angle braces in my first viewing, from the earlier comment I was expecting a stand fixed into/ or bolted down onto concrete and so was surprised to see it sitting on the wheels, and not with a very big heavy chain! smiles

Think the biggest engine they had run previously was a Derwent-8 … this is some step up from that and top marks for effort. 😀

Heres another run of it in the related clips list.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbYa7TQpzzI&feature=related

As others have said, hopefully they/he knows what he is doing, but also ensures those around him keep well clear?

I dont know what the safe approach limits are for such an engine at idle or the power settings its being run at, I assume thats all well known by them and the others permitted to be running around the engine while its operating?

Again as others have said, its on his own land and between consenting adults, the only risk of the U-tube video is that it doesnt run the “dont try this at home” warnings of approaching a large turbine engine from either end.

In the end all I can say is wow, and great effort (and more so if there really is no previous engineering experience with turbine engines?), and I’m sure we all hope they are doing, and keep doing it safely.

regards

Mark Pilkington

That`s not a bird strike, it`s an explosive blade-off test which ensures the engine stays within the powerplant cowling, which it did.

Pete

jet

Well all you people who think it’s “Terribly British” would have no problem being near it when this happens:D
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWTb0QRIt0c

The whole project looks awesome, pay no attention to the ‘fire prevention officers’ Garden shed engineering is what makes this country great 😎

Well said that man. They are after all adults, using their money, their enthusiasm, in their yard, and its their risk. Their only apparent mistake was making it public for others to see and criticise! 😉

The ‘brothers Bennett’ (the red-headed chappies) are pretty well known for their expertise with gas turbines … not sure whether one or both work or worked for RR in Filton, but they certainly aren’t cowboys when it comes to running these things up. They are pretty whizz at designing and making up the control gear needed to start and run gas turbines 😎

I recall, several years ago talking at length with Ian about a Rover AAPP engine I was considering buying, and the sort and amount of work he was recommending before even dry cycling the engine was way beyond what I was happy being capable of in my workshop.

As for the RB211 stand being concreted in … if you look carefully, you will see at the rear of the engine a pair of support struts that run diagonally out and appear to be attached to metal angle concreted into the pad. Seems a sensible way of doing it otherwise how the hell are you ever going to move the engine again if the stand is set in? :rolleyes:

Think the biggest engine they had run previously was a Derwent-8 … this is some step up from that and top marks for effort. 😀

The whole project looks awesome, pay no attention to the ‘fire prevention officers’ Garden shed engineering is what makes this country great 😎