So who here knows anything about older aircraftradial engines?

I'm just way busy at work and have too much enthusiasm to do anything other than my tasks at hand, so I'm looking up old bomber startups. So I've always been cuerious about these engines and didn't quite understand how all the connecting rods worked together and all that...well now I have an idea

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeiDd...eature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hWZ4...eature=related

But how are they starting? It sounds like they are using air pressure or something, there's a low whine that gets louder and faster until it seems they transfer that enery to the actual engine. What are they doing to tranfer that...clutch style, air in the "hot" cylinders, I just can't fathom how that's working. (startup, not operation)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kbv2K...eature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3sHT...eature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DcfyWaD0vQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkpPU9Vx3YY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWiLjegw9iQ
in this vid, you can see a guy cranking something like an old style air raid siren. (same as above...kinda)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2ChX...eature=related

Some other cool vids:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdfO6...eature=related

 

They aren't rotary engines, they're radial. Most used the Coffman system to start them.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coffman_engine_starter

 

ah how i miss flying the props. i did get to fly in a DC-3 once... (Well, it was a C-47 used in WW2, then got converted to a DC-3). Talk about an awesome experience.

Those engines use oil like you wouldn't believe. The engine in the AN2, the Shvetov ASh-62 (had to wikipedia that one), has an oil capacity of about 29 gallons. [&:]

 

The Rotary (Mazda 7/8/wankel engine):



Radial Engine:

 

Wow LOL! I can imagine that they would used quite a bit since they must just damn near suck oil like a two stroke since there dosen't appear to be any oil circulation. Damn I can't spell today.

And I stand corrected, radial...not rotary

 

Both cool technologies