(Kirk Stant) wrote:

Cub Driver wrote in message
As posted, British aircraft engines turned to the left, or
anti-clockwise as seen from the cockpit.

Not true at all. Merlins turn one way (clockwise from cockpit - as do
most US engines), Griffons, Centaurus's, and Hercules's (Tempest 2,
Sea Fury, Beaufighter) turn the other way, as does the smaller DH
Gypsy engine used by the Tiger Moth, for example. Many smaller
Russian and Czech engines turn counter-clockwise, but it looks like
the bigger WW2 Russian fighter engines turned clockwise. I think most
German WW2 engines turn clockwise - at least the main DB, BWM, and
Jumo ones appear to. I think big Japanese engines are clockwise,
also.

And that is the basic engine - "handed" Merlins used on Hornets, I
believe, and of course Griffons also were made with contraprops.

So unless you are looking at the prop, you can't be sure. And make
sure the photo you are looking at hasn't been reversed!

So as far as carrier islands are concerned, the Seafire had both
Merlin (clockwise) and Griffon (counterrotating) engines, Sea Furies
had Centaurus (counter-clockwise) rotating engines, and Fireflies had
Griffon (counter-clockwise) engines. And of course, all the US
carrier planes (Wildcat, Hellcat, Corsair, Avenger, etc) had clockwise
R-1820, R-1830, R-2600, and R-2800 engines.

Kirk

Now, just to be a ****-disturber I'll mention that you can't
always tell which way the engine turns by looking at the prop
either...most yes, not all...
--

-Gord.