Ford aluminum block V-12 aero engine

[Opaque Hornet]

WW 2 era attempt.




Henry Ford vowed to build an engine of the exact same size, but which would be more technically advanced and with more power than the Rolls.



It is NOT a Merlin copy. The Rolls Royce Merlin was a single overhead cam engine with rocker followers, whereas the GAA is a true double OHC engine with the cam lobes directly acting on mechanical buckets. The Merlin's spark plugs were located on the exhaust side of the head just below the exhaust ports, whereas the GAA had its plugs centrally located in the combustion chamber, as per modern practice



Finally, the GAA featured a one-piece block casting, but the Merlin featured a split block casting. The confusion between the GAA and the Merlin arose because they both featured the same bore and stroke (5.4" x 6.0"),



http://www.fordgaaengine.com/

[Opaque Hornet]

Well, this & a gun repositioning or upgrade to cannon, ( even D model had jams), plus lightening airframe in 43 instead of 45 would've been an interesting "what if".


Spiraling closer to the ground, Drew kept some altitude on the Messerschmitt, until the German pulled out. The G forcesin the Lufbery (about 7Gs) had jammed five of his six guns, but the one gun proved enough to down the Bf 109. Drew says this was the one time in his combat career he felt remorse over a victory. "I felt very bad, because I said, Drew, there was one of the great fighter pilots of all time. Who ever was flying that 109, he almost got you. And I was the best, as far as I was concerned. Maybe he was a big ace and maybe he wasn't, but by God he could fly that Messerschmitt."

http://www.elknet.pl/acestory/drew/drew.htm