Fun fact: That big building in the foreground of the aerial photograph of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway? It's the Allison aircraft engine factory -- it's literally just across 16th street.

Amid all the BS on the internet, Greg’s videos stand out like diamonds in a mud puddle. And very compact diamonds at that. Greg covers more material in 30 minutes that most internet videos could cover in 30 hours. Keep up the good work!

You’ve taught me I know nothing.

‘I may do a video on the Thunderbolt’. Nice foreshadowing and understatement.

It actually came as a surprise to many engine designers that they gained power as they gained altitude with a turbo engine. All they wanted was to "equalise" the manifold pressure drop due to the lower air density, but didn't expect to actually get more power. I suspect some of those graphs were done after the testing revealed this and they finally understood what was happening.

The P-39 is just awesome. I am always amazed that I never heard of one for the first 40-odd years of my life, despite a resounding interest in aircraft.

I count myself so lucky to have stumbled across your channel. I am learning so much that it is actually rather exciting. Huge thanks.

I’m an old manual machinist, would have been awesome to make the prototypes of these turbochargers from prints to help help win the war. The technology from the 20s to the present is unbelievable on the aviation front. Thanks for the video.

It is becoming more and more clear to me that the Thunderbolt was one hell of a fighter - -thanks for this post.

50 times better than most contemporary TV documentaries! WW2 fighters are practically the pinnacle of evolution of propeller planes with big piston engines, and this documentary perfectly described so many interesting details about them, I loved it.

My grandfather passed away in the 1970s. He worked all his life at Buick in Engineering. His father was Chief Chassis Engineer when the Buick company was first formed. I remember my Grandpa telling me that turbos were something that Buick really wanted to use but up until the 1950s they just didn't have the metals to resist the high temperatures for any period of time. This was less of an issue in aircraft because they had a much cooler and faster airflow to assist in cooling them but even then they did not have a long enough life to be practical in an auto engine. Superchargers where chosen in the early days because they were well-known and presented far less development costs that turbos did.

As a young man working as a heavy equipment mechanic, I worked on some big ore haulers that were powered by big v16 diesel engines. They were turbo charged, intercooled and supercharged. Four exhaust driven turbo chargers pushed air into an intercooler and then the cooled air went through the belt driven supercharger which rammed the air into the cylinders. Those engines were rated at about 2200 horsies.

Rolls Royce with both Merlin and Griffon stuck with a two stage supercharger because their iterative design methods created a system which worked extremely well. Their blower was so good they used it on the Nene turbo jet used in many early jets.

Gotta love The Juggernaut. It was a battle axe in the company of rapiers such as the Spitfire, Mustang, ME-109, A6M Zero. It could absorb amazing punishment and still get a pilot safely home. Not to mention the enormous punishment it could deliver with 8 Browning M-2 "Ma Deuce" .50 cals. Thanks for another great presentation. These lectures are not only very informative, they're always a pleasure to watch.

You have a gift sir. Easily understood even with a rudimentary background in engines. The time it must take you to put one of these videos together so eloquently is only superseded by the quality of the end product I'm sure. Thank you for caring immensely about what you consider a helpful and informative video for the rest of us!

Turbosuperchaging... how nice to hear what something is REALLY called

Some Internet Gold here.

I want to thank you for the documentation you provided. I am a retired Army senior officer the saying that you either continue to learn or fade into oblivion. Your research is the best. Thanks

My Dad 2-15-1921 to 3-7-2019 spent most of his time in WWII as a C47 Hump Pilot, often mentioned B17s, B29s, P38s, "Zeros" vs P47s, F2G-1 "Super" Corsair, German Tanks, Messerschmitt Bf 109E-4. He was glade the Germans ran outta Gas and of course We watched Baa Baa Black Sheep a lot on what was then called TV. P47 is our favorite too :) ...Thank you for this!

Hi Greg, As an avid aviation enthusiast as well as a driven gearhead, these videos of yours are absolutely fantastic. Thank you for the effort you put into them and keep them coming.

I get SO HYPE when you put up a new video! 45 minutes passes in what seems like 10 and I'm wishing there was an extra cut truly

I am very happy to know that your channel is here - you're like the uncle that knows all the details of tech and engineering that caused different design details on all those famous warbirds, which made history. Your videos help bring the stories to life by explaining why many of the details are important, and why those details made a difference. Please keep up the great work!

All love to the Jug. Indeed an aircraft made for warfare not for showrooms and posters.

Cant wait for that P-38 video, hands down my favourite WW2 aircraft. And as usual, a fantastic in-depth video. Always a pleasure to watch.

A long lecture on supercharging of WW2 fighters? Just what I've been looking for since 1997.

THE BEST Channel EVER in terms of realistic historic warbirds

I like the talk about any piston engines, but WW2 aircraft engines are the favourite. Love the work, like your style. Thank you

A co-worker of mine was a retired crew-chief from the USAF who had experience with the C-97 and other "recip's" in the cargo inventory in the Cold War era. He related times when he needed to keep all of the engines in "High-Blower" while landing and departing from some of the remote fields in Indo-China. It was a remarkable insight into one of the facets of the war in South-East Asia my father fought- A snapshot of people doing what they'd been trained to do......................

Great video!!! Answered many questions I've always had. Thanks for taking the time to make this. Can't wait for all the future videos you hint at.

Jesus, Greg, this is amazing work you've put up. I salute you, sir!

One of the best deep dives I've run across!! Excellent data driven presentation!

This is one of the most informative videos I've ever seen posted.

best WWII engine analysis I've watched.

Stunningly informative as always. I have learned new things from this video, the details regarding Turbo's advantages over Superchargers is very illuminating in particular. As well as the pre-war swing back to Inline engines, I always thought aerodynamics were the primary culprit (although probably partial). I look forward to the next Aeroplane video.

Excellent vid. Info I've never come across, and I appreciate you exposing, sharing and exploring all of it. Since the 47 is my favorite, I can't wait to view your next production. Thanks!

Love these videos. No music, no drama, just technical information which appeals to gear heads of all stripes.

The P-47 was my favorite aircraft when I was little (and probably still is, especially the razorback variants), really looking forward to a video of yours on it. :D

I always love your videos and the way you present them ! just "Geeking out" to this Tech talk : ) Great as always Sir.

Excellent video! You covered a lot of information and evolution of turbochargers and superchargers without getting deeply mired down too in specifics. Keep up the efforts and I'm glad I found your channel!

I am often at a complete loss for words when it comes to the rapid advancement in performance technology in such a short period of time..just amazing!

I was looking for this sort of information for a long long time.. Thank you very much for your effort.

This is the first of your videos I have watched, and I am very impressed by the level of knowledge and research. I had often wondered about turbo-superchargers, and why they were not more widely adopted during this period. Thanks so much for making these!

This really hit home for me. Your explanation was very interesting and informative. Keep up the great work

Great pics and information. Thanks!

That was an EXCELLENT video. Thank you for your hard work and time that went into it. I'm always excited to see you upload more aviation and engine videos. I enjoy hearing the summaries of the NACA reports and seeing their data as well as your own data points. I wonder what would have developed fighter wise as turbocharger packaging became more space efficient were it not for jet aircraft. I'm all sorts of excited for a P47 video (and maybe a P38 video?) I also enjoyed the long format video. Amazingly well done.

I really like this. It's good to find a source of real, good information about aircraft on KZfaq instead of the usual opinionated, misinformed and just plain wrong drivel on so many other channels.

Great video, Greg. Good high level summary of supercharging as related to early efforts, F4, F6, Corsair, P-38, P-47 and P-51.

Recently discovered this channel and really enjoy/appreciate all the information taught here. I'm busy going back and catching up

Love the technical details I never heard anywhere else. And you have a cool name.

Hey, Greg! Just wanted to tell you how much I love your videos... thanks for all your efforts.

I've always loved the "Jug" and everything you've been saying about it in your videos has just cemented that feeling. Thanks so much for sharing Greg I just love your stuff and I especially love the poem.

For a future video could you discuss the armaments of fighters. Why the British stuck to .30 then jumped to 20 mm canon while the US stayed with .50 during the war and even in the F-86. I am learning a lot from you.

Favorite channel! Keep going!

Another great video!

Just the perfect level of detail - and hardly any stupid ads - thankyou

Another superb video Greg. Thanks! That Thud is a Beast.

What an amazing channel. So much information. Subbed,

Great video, just great bro love it from start to end. Cant wheit for new one 👍✌️🤘

Great video! It really helps explain the comparative advantage between different aircraft and the aircraft different nations. Thank you.

These are by far the most informative and interesting videos I've found about wwII era planes. Thanks for all you put into these!

Wow Greg, thank you so much for this educational video! I've been wondering for years now what people like my grandfather and father was talking all about around the dinner table at night! Growing up, all I ever heard was the wonderful 2 and 3 stage superchargers of the old piston plane kicking ass in WWII. Then there was the confusion of turbochargers mixed together with superchargers all working on different levels of altitude from ground level to dog fights! I say this about cars from the 1920-30s you had to be an engineer just to go for a drive in those old things! It's amazing the amount of technology gains between the 30s into the 40s though. Shit they even have a primitive auto pilot system in the B-17s which was absolutely unheard of for those days. I understand now the importance of the explosives kept on board some aircraft to prevent them from falling into enemy hands intact. Especially parts like the Nordon bomb sight, with the description in the hand book of how to destroy it with your .45 cal side arm. But really I thank you so very much for doing this video! It maybe a little dry for some to endure, but I found it very very fascinating. I can't wait to go through your other videos, we need this history preserved being the Greatest Generation is now all but dying off and with them the loss of so much knowledge of these aircraft and engines!

Excellent video as always! I do hope you get to the touch on the 190 series of planes in the future, the D9 is a absolute favorite.

Having just watched #7 Firepower and still in lock down this seems like a good day to rewatch the entire playlist. Good job on discussing numerous design tradeoff aspects. Even if not building a plane the way designs trade getting this but losing that is just as relevant today.

Fantastic video Greg! Thanks for sharing your research and knowledge! Keep the excellent service for the community!! 🤙🏻

Youre an engine god

Greg, thank you for this constant trickle of technical aviation videos (and the occasional very interesting car video)... You curate one of the most consistently interesting channels on the history of aviation, and I especially appreciate that you're going back to the primary sources where possible to provide the context and informed commentary along with it. Please keep it up!

At last - some really well-informed and detailed commentary on WW2 aircraft. Yes - I will subscribe.

I’m new to your channel I just want to say thank you!! It’s a breath of fresh air on the tube!! I have grown up around auto sport and I always look to aerospace for technology. I’m learning from WW2 aviation

Yes! I saw the thumbnail and went nuts 👌

Woah a 40 minute video? Christmas came early.

Thanks Greg, thoroughly enjoyed all of your videos thus far. Please post more. I am and have been for some time a great fan of the P47, a truly unsung hero of WW2 !!

I love wandering down the paths the various KZfaq videos expose you to.

First I was like: "What? Over 40 minutes?". But then time started flying. One has to notice the picture of the Hispano Suiza engine, which shows how an engine mounted gun is fitted for being able to shoot through the propeller hub. 21:46

Wow! I built all these aircraft as models as a kid in the '70's. I went on to maintain Tomcats and Hornets in the Navy. But I never really considered them from a performance perspective. All I cared about was ease of maintenance or cool factor. Very informative. Thank you for sharing your knowledge!

Great info here. You sir did a lot of research for these videos. I just happened to stumble across your channel and now I’m hooked!

The best in depth WWII aircraft channel! The fact that you like performance automobiles is just gravy. I think that’s how a lot of us got into one or the other because of so much of automobile performance is just trickle down aircraft tech anyway. Great channel!

at 28:35: Someone might have mentioned this already, since I didn't read thru all the comments, but one very interesting german project was Blohm & Voss BV 155, which was one of the late war prototypes in 1945. And, as you said, it wasn't a combat aircraft, just a couple of prototypes were built and one flown before the end of the war. But it had both the supercharger and intercooled turbocharger. At least The Monogram has published a very good book on that one. It was supposed to be a extreme high altitude fighter(go higher than Ta-152), which it would have done, had the project started earlier.

I love the long detailed videos

Yes Greg, your channel is superb!

Great explanation and comparisons!

Anyone more that use this channel as relaxing background when working? #relaxing

Really excellent stuff, thank you. I have been studying the Merlin verses the DB601 and later derivatives. The main differences seem to be in approach, the Germans had some fantastic ideas like the liquid drive for the supercharger, the direct fuel injection and the inverted vee layout, but were hamstrung for materials and decent fuel. Rolls Royce stuck with what they knew and perfected it.

Great explanation! I can't wait for your P-47 video.

Awesome channel Greg!

One of the few KZfaq channels where the comments are typically worthwhile... In any case Professor Greg, could you discuss the pilot work load with both configurations, i.e. Thunderbolt vs Corsair. I’ve read many histories by pilots and don’t ever recall hearing them discuss this, beyond Col. Tibbets mentioning how the poor throttle settings on the B-17 could get the turbos surging (whatever that means).

Der Unterschied zwischen den beiden Formen der Anlage wird von diesem ausgezeichneten Video völlig und verständlich erklärt. Echt super!

Great video Greg. Thanks

----- I DO LOVE to learn new things... The one thing I picked up from this video was that the famed Russian Klimov in-line powerplants that served the YAK line of successful fighters were developed from a Spanish engine design... Never knew that, and it's a cool thing... But this was a real fascinating video, indeed--and I don't know diddly-squat about aircraft engineering... Only a few basics... Also informative was the bit on the Curtiss P-37 fighter that never got into service--why it had the 'long-nosed' profile and the cockpit was set so far back (supercharger), just like on the 'Gee-Bee' racer of the 'thirties...I always wondered why the numerous Allison engines weren't given supercharging other than in the P-38 Lightning... Great stuff about the Bell P-39, the Hellcat & Corsair, too... Thanks for this great information...

AHHHHH P-47 i see you are a man of culture as well.

The jugs are always a favorite of mine, a clear example of how you can afford to have less than ideal aerodynamics if you have a monstrous engine.

A superb production; congratulations! Very informative and engaging, the work you do is outstanding. Thank you.

A fascinating and informative video - thank you!

These are great videos, thank you. I’ve always wondered about just this issue. If my vote counts, I’d love to see a P-47 video.

I still.don't believe that videos like that exist Very sharp knowledge

Great video Greg. Love it.

Superb commentary, thank you. I'm learning so much.

P-38 and P-47 videos! Please!

Please keep the WW2 aircraft content coming, every video made so far is an amazing watch. Looking forward to the P-47 specific video, and perhaps future in-depth videos pertaining to aircraft of non-US origin (I'm not complaining about US related content at all) keep up the great work!

Finally a clear explanation of this supercharging thing, thanks.

Awesome video as always