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Comparing F-1 engine runs with Warbirds...

Posted by Joe Scheil on Thu Jul 10, 2003 06:39:18 AM

In reply top Re: Engines old or new a comparison ? posted by John Parker on Thu Jul 10, 2003 03:41:59 AM

: Minardi just paid Cosworth US $10M for use of approx 100

Remember that this is the least current engine in current use and is the cheapest. Think too of the scale of the F-1 game and the warbird movement. A Merlin is very large compared to a F-1 engine, probably six times the size of like parts. Large aluminum pieces are complex in the extreme. Figure the cost would be in excess of 250K-300K a motor for a run of 100...But why the easy Merlins? A run of 100 DB-605's would end up with 90 extra motors, as Flugwerk would not be able to sell more than a few "replica?" Fw-0190Ds.. To sell a production run of motors for a few planes requires a need (racing?) money and attrition, to keep it going.

The problem with a warbird engine is that outside of Reno, the engines are not destroyed on a regular basis. A Minardi cooks an engine every 4-5 days or so on average. The Ferrari engine deal to the Suaber team is a lot more expensive, and competitive. The Ferrari team budget was 420M USD last year to win, and I think they sold Sauber last years engines for 40M. With the cost and beauty of F-1 what it is, it is impossible for mortals to just hang around and watch. Reno is on the other hand very accessable.

Hopefully there will be a way to do this cheaply in part in the future, but remember that these engines are at the limit of metallurgy and technology, even today. Development stopped when the jets came and the brain trust that was involved in creating these wonderful machines is for the most part dispersed to the winds. I would be surprised if new engines are ever built, but I never thought there would be Fw-190's being recreated either. The current value of a core Merlin is 25K USD. That is what engine builders have to contend with. A pickled core DB-605? Who knows? But I'd like to buy one.

Joe ;)

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