[ATTACH]
Actually, it used the B-50 engines (P&W R-4360s). I don't believe they were as bad as the R-3350s, but they were still problematic. And actually, the Stratocruiser had more issues with propellers than it did engines.
The early C-97's had the R3350's but the commercial 377's had the R4360's and they were a maintenance career for the mechanics and a huge expense for the operator and they were not reliable. Just too many parts that were geared to jump up and down and run in circles. Really four 7 cylinder engines bolted together to turn a single crankshaft, each with its own gears and cams. At least, the R4360 was a better concept with better metallurgy and cooling. I worked on them a little bit when I was working on the RB-50's and the KC-97G. The Curtiss Electric propellors could be a problem.
I would have used different words but said the same thing. Nothing you need to count on should have that many moving parts especially if they are all moving in different directions. While I like recip engines aviation owes Frank Whittle a big atta boy. He changed our world as much as John Harrison did.
Bob, have you seen the Lycoming R-7755 engine at the Smithsonian. Talk about a nightmare! Good thing it was never actually used on an airplane.
