Bill Freeman wrote:

Paul,

I believe this is the Packard diesel.  Put into production in
the 30's, Has a VERY odd inlet-exhaust system and a
single valve.  The horn on the head is open at the front, apparently
to permit inlet air to be drawn in, and open at the rear, again
apparently to let the exhaust be blown downstream by the
slipstream.  Very hard to figure out without any good info
on the placard.  Apparently no exhaust system, just dump
into the free stream.  These are guesses based on examining
an example.

Jeff Spitzer and I spent about 10 minutes trying to figure this
one out at the San Diego Air & Space Museum last year.
I don't think the example we saw did not have the spiral on the front.
Oil cooler??

Ahead of it's time, I'd guess.  Hope someone else has
more info, like why it failed, was it mechanically reliable,
how were the fuel specifics, how was the specific power,
didn't look too heavy, but hard to weigh by looking.

Bill

 
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