Keepin’ ’Em Flying Ain’t Easy

Your August 2018 issue concentrating on warbirds got me to wondering: Where are these owners and restorers obtaining the engines?

As these V-1650 and V-1710 liquid-cooled engines haven’t been manufactured in more than 70 years, where are the restorers finding them? Who is overhauling them, and where are they getting the replacement parts? Likewise with the “round” engines. With hundreds of these classic planes now flying, some needing four engines, there must be a huge demand for them.

Could you enlighten us readers? To say that finding some parts for these old engines is becoming difficult is an understatement. Hundreds of thousands of the engines were built, however, so the engines are easy to keep running compared other components, like wheels and brakes. Lots of items needed to fly are close to becoming extinct.—BD

Rarities waiting to be scrapped at NAS Jacksonville after the war. (Photo courtesy of Jack Cook)