Coltrane's Planes & Automobiles: The Supercharger
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- Опубліковано 23 лют 2011
- Coltrane traces the history of thesupercharger from the great race tracks of Europe in the years before World War II to the Battle fo Britain where it ultimately helped decide the fate of the war. From Bentleys & Mercedes to Me-109s and Spitfires Coltrane looks at the supercharger.
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@10:34 "In spite of the fact that Lady Dorothy had given Tim a blower, he never came first."
Rest in peace Robbie ❤
RIP Robbie, you will be sorely missed.
What a great programme - I had no idea this even existed. Robbie did a fantastic job presenting. RIP.
"In spite of the fact that Dorothy had given Tim a blower he never came first."
Was I the only one that laughed as Coltrane delivered that line dead pan?
I remember him most for that line from this tv series above all other things he did only followed by his cameo in the film Flash Gordon
It really doesn’t get much better than this. Supercharged Bentleys, supercharged Mercs, Spitfires, Messerschmitts (Black 6, no less), Gunther Rall and Robbie Coltrane tying it all together in splendid good humour. Superb viewing. Robbie, what a legacy you’ve left. RIP.
Well said sir 👏
Yes well said. Black 6 sadly crashed at Duxford, by some Air Marshal idiot who thought he could fly it.
The only issue I have with it is the ridiculous old fool spitfire designer trying to claim you get a net increase of power from a carburettor by spending X amount of energy compressing a gas, while claiming you get a larger output of energy when it expands again afterwards, like friction and heat don't exist. There is ZERO benefit from using a carburettor's venturi to compress a gas. Any gain made when expanding it would be lost in heat of the motor. A ignorant, ludicrous claim. So ludicrous he has to be just plain lying, trying to pretend the spitfire was better because it had a motor 20 years out of date. Next thing he'll say is having .303 bullets helped, when they were pea shooters next to an American .50cal or German 20mm. The British won in spite of the Merlin, not because of it. Idiots
RIP to a legend of a man who’s kind heart and love life shone through everything he did be it this or as Fitz in Cracker or as the lovable Hagrid
Do I want to hear about his love life?
Or did he have an inspiring love FOR life?
This is what Robbie should be remembered for, truly in his element.
RIP Robbie - you will be very much missed.
Omg that mercedes blower whine is just intoxicating.
There are stories of Mercedes drivers in period being accused of using a 'siren' on the public road. No officer, that's just the blower.. 🙂
Aside from the topic and the great guys involved I mostly miss this quality of scripting and editing in today's mainstream television.
Rip Robbie, you bought fun, with history, two things that dont normally sit well with each other
"Well, in spite of the fact that Lady Dorothy had given Tim a blower, he never came first"
ROTFLMAO.... Perfect Rupert, and Lady Dorothy thanks you!
Well eventually he came !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!¡¡!
badum, tish, ithangyou....
That was so dry I pissed myself!
Still one of the best series to watch for the true petrolhead. So well made and presented. A shame Robbie didn't present more programmes.
Loved the episode where he dismantled a car engine on the side of the road in America to demonstrate an engineering feature...
@@robleary3353 I remember seeing that !
I think that was the V8 episode that this one mentions at the end was to be the following week. I think it was a little 4-cylinder Honda or Suzuki.
And the music, too!
Love the fact they took the cars out and still gave them 'the beans' on a wet track!..... Brilliant series, brilliant and loveable presenter!.
Hi American here, UA-cam dropped your channel on my feed with the show about Robbie Coltrane with v8s this is the second episode I've seen I'm really liking these never seen them before never heard of them thank you for posting
I saw Black Six fly at Duxford United Kingdom, it was the first original BF109 I saw flying, it sounded glorious. Such a shame it was damaged on landing later. I believe its in a museum now...Robbie Coltrane did some marvellous work during his career....Thanks Robbie...RIP.
I adsolutely loved this series when it aired on Discovery back in thee day and this was my favourite episode of all.
RIP Big Man - gae them "sook,, sook. Whizz, whizz. Wallup!" wherever you end up.
Thanks for this. Robbie's sad death made me look for this fascinating programme. Can't believe it's 25 years since I watched the broadcast. I have the accompanying book somewhere. It was superb too.
Damn. Before I read your comment I was feeling 25, somethings not adding up!! Yeah, I enjoyed it as well and I'm definitely not a petrol head. Robbie was a decent, kind guy with a great sense of humour. An entertainer who will be missed, more Hagrid than Cracker.RIP
I just read these comments, I watched this when it was first broadcast, holy smoke 25 years !!!!!!
Actually, a bloke in a garage in Grimsby and a Ford Capri 2.0S
After a Merc Sprinter left me standing as I was overtaking it, I decided to upgrade. Bandit 1200 Mikuni carbs and an Eaton supercharger off a Mini Cooper S. Up from 100 to 140 BHP and it's been going strong for over ten years. Robbie would have liked it 'cos it's damn good fun 🙂
A couple of years back l was doing an indicated 90 uphill on the M11 & a brand spanking new MAN Luton overtook me with no problem whatsoever. Vans certainly ain't what they used to be, especially Luton's which used to be down to 25 or 30 on a slope. 😄
R.I.P Robbie Coltrane.
When this series first came out, I was so envious of Robbie and his adventures. I still am!
Love this Series when it came out RIP Big man
"While Lady Dorothy gave Tim a blower, he never came first." LOL
Exceptional series, brilliant.
Superbly presented with a mechanical sympathy and understanding. R .I.P. Mr. Coltrane.
I never knew Robbie was a mech nut. Didn't see this series at the time, It's great to see that the Brits and the Germans can get along considering the short time since the war. There are many countries who could learn from this.
Such a good series. His dry humour really makes it. Was able to meet him some years age as an extra on the set of Cracker. R.I.P Robbie.
Where oh where did we go wrong or did we ?? R.I.P. Mr Coltrane you were one of the best you really were and these Docs are still the best !!
I can attest to the horrifying feeling when your Spit would dive and cut it's own engine. With two or more enemy planes on you tail you are suddenly in an envelope of silence. The only noise left was the air over your wings and the enemies bullets whizzing past your canopy. Even as a top pilot (over 2 thousand confirmed kills) it makes you long for a toilet. Now retired ( My PC packed up and my world of war thunder nothing more than a mere memory ) I often sit with a cup of tea and a roll up and remember the halcyon days that were the summer of '22. Have a splendid evening chaps.
He also did the great 'Coltrane in a caddillac' and ' B Road britain', both superb.
RIP big man and thanks 🙏
Marvellous programme. Spits + Schmitt's AND the late great Robbie Coltrane. He always brought an air of credibility and lit up anything he was involved in. 😄 Happy trails Mr Coltrane and thanks for all the laughs.
That Bentley Blower is simply a work of art. I saw one at Beaulieu when I was about eight and the sight of it never left me. I've never seen a more magnificent machine since.
When I watch programmes of this quality, it's depressing to think how far beyond the capabilities of today's TV producers they are.
I know about Hagrid like everyone else, but thought of this instantly when I heard of his passing, classic show superbly presented
Yes, I did as well. I must locate my copy of the book and write a note on Robbie's passing.
10:35 You cheeky bugger you! RIP Robbie Coltrane
"Despite the fact that Lady Dorothy had given Tim a blower, he never came first". Classic Comic Strip line! I wonder how many of you chaps got it?
Just rediscovered these after the sad news of Robbie’s passing. His humour was epic and that line about Lady Dorothy and the blower should be an instant classic!
He did come eventually though.
Oh Min!
Forgot about this programme.
Petrolhead heaven.
R.I.P. Mr Coltrane.
Robbie Coltrane has to be one of the best technical presenters there have been. He possessed a superb combination of humour, wit, style and ability. He was great teacher.
I loved these programs with Robbie 🙂🇮🇪💚
R.I.P Robbie, you were a great actor and just oozed character and charm, I will miss you.
He was a big lad, he made that Bentley look like a go-cart.
RIP.
Its still brilliant hearing a Spitfire fly over our house now & then. If im in the kitchen i dart out just to see & hear the fantastic sound & shape. Thats one of the reasons why we dont speak German!
Amen!
What a treasure stuck in the swirl of millions of UA-cam videos. I will bookmark this video to be able to copy "Coltrane's Planes & Automobiles" and paste the text in the search box to hopefully pull out these interesting and informative videos out of the UA-cam swamp. Robbie Coltrane R.I.P.
The BF-109 (they were built by Bayerische Flugzeugwerke, not Messerschmitt) was a fabulous plane for its day/in the early war years. Groundbreaking aerodynamics which was copied by many countries after it was seen in the skies over Europe. BUT the Rolls Royce Merlin engine was, and still is if you ask me, a work of art! Also, the SOUND of a Merlin at throttle is very unique and I can only describe it as "a harmony created by the god of horsepower". With my eyes closed I can identify a RR Merlin powered aircraft over any other. The sound is part "roar", part "hum", part "TERROR"! The sound of a Merlin at throttle raises the short hairs on the back of my neck and gives me a chubby, all at the same time! LoL....
Though it may be fair to acknowledge Bayerische Flugzeugwerke became Messerschmitt AG in 1938.
RIP Hagrid
My old Mercedes 6.3 owed it's fuel injection system to the 109. It sounded like a bomber taking off as the nose lifted she really felt like it. It even had automatic mechanical air pressure system to adjust fuel ratios at altitude!
Oh my, back in a day when Britain was still Great. 🥰
Dorothy gave him a blower but he never came first!!!
Brilliant stuff.
If Robbie is paying any attention to these posts, I would highly recommend he look at the Dodge Challenger or Charger Hellcat with a 707HP supercharged engine. Right up his alley with his fondness for American cars and supercharging!
'Despite her giving him a blower, he never came first' - exceptional
What a fantastic presenter he was, spoken with fun importance fact and respect.
R.I.P Robbie
There is no doubt that Coltranes Planes and Automobiles was a magnificent piece of television and loved every minute of it at the time. Ironic that at the end you can hear the ABC voice announce Four Corners to follow which is a pile of …….. in comparison, still is. I remember reading reviews of the programme by critics who must have had no affinity with the subject at all and complaining that it was out of Coltrane’s character to be a petrol head. High octane stuff, he hit the mark completely. I remember him for that TV series. Jeff
We lost way to many good people in the last 2 years ones again we got to say goodbye to another good man rip sir
"In spite of the fact that Lady Dorothy had given Tim a blower..." Oh, Robbie. You will be missed. R.I.P.
Thank you for uploading these, Robbie was a gent & will be much missed 🥲
…despite the fact that she gave him a blower, he never came first…😂😂
A great series. RIP Robbie
Bless you Robbie Coltrain. I have enjoyed everything you have ever done. RIP
RIP big man
RIP Robbie!
Remarkable young at heart and mind this ex WW2 German Lutfwaffa Ace Gunther Rall interesting to note most of his victories were at the Eastern front I believe
Yep, after being sent to the western front he only scored 2 victories and then was promptly hammered out of the sky by P47's of the USAAF.
He credited that with saving his life knowing that he not survived a shoot down he likely would have eventually been killed by the USAAF.
Well, In spite of the fact that Lady Dorothy had given Tim a blower, he never came first......... Coltrane's humour so near the mark, Brilliant. R.I.P Robbie.
Brilliant programme, thanks for posting. I just looked up the fact that this series was published from 1997-on. So Robbie was about 46 or 47 at the time. Looks well, but heavy even then. The interwar years that he was describing was a fascinating era. BMW had also made advances on supercharging their 500cc motorcycle racing engine. There is a great book called The Nazi TT, Hitler's 1939 Propaganda Victory on the Isle of Man. It's by Roger Willis. Not in print, but you should be able to get a secondhand copy (like I did) off Amazon. It's a similar scenario, ten years' on, to the Mercedes/Bentley rivalry described by Robbie.
RIP Robbie, one of Scotlands finest. 🏴❤️🏴
Quality like this can never fade. What a great series and thanks for uploading.
Rest in peace Robbie.
Makes top gear look like a tea meeting compared to these guys, true warriors and absolute gentlemen. Sad loss Robbie...RIp
What an insane sound! Amazing
Gave him a blower and he still came 2nd. 🤣I love 90s tv.
Germans didn't have premium aviation fuel. Thats why the Me109 had larger (and heavier) engines.
Yup, Germany was running on 90 octane fuel while the U.S was using and providing Britain with 130 and 150 octane fuel.
@@harrymack3565 They also successfully used water/meth injection to compensate, increasing service ceiling, climb rate and providing extra power on tap for dogfighting.
Rest in peace Robbie. A great series from a guy with a background in engineering...
RIP big man…you’re sorely missed. ❤️
Brilliant video! Love the last comment about a couple of blokes in a shed maybe in Solihull lol yes! But it wasn't Solihull, but around Coventry, at Jaguar who supercharged their AJ V8, now Jaguar and Land Rover are combined as one company, JLR put their AJ V8 into the Range Rover, I have a supercharged 4.2 litre V8 Range Rover. And yes that's got a nice supercharger whine when you mash the pedal to the floor, and boy does the 2 3/4 ton motor take off when you floor it!
yes those crafty germans were pioneering engine technology to be later used in aero engines. kinda smart really. amazing to see rall flying a 109! a true gent and a legend. he became good friends with stamford tuck from the RAF after ww2. nice to see acknowledged that the british decision to go with carbs on the merlin was for power performance. its not something that is widely known when people complain about the splutter.
Both had advantages and disadvantages, the Bendix "pressure carburetor" also known and more correctly called an "injection carburetor" was actually fuel injection, single point fuel injection to be specific, the only reason that it even had the word carburetor associated with it was because that's all they knew to call it back then but it actually is fuel injection, it was the perfect mix between the two, but introducing the fuel before the supercharger still had it's drawbacks, the Wright R3350 engine's were proof of that.
The R3350 started out with the Bendix injection carburetor but because of it's particular design it had a tendency to pool gas in areas of the supercharger housing that caused induction fires in the engine's, most supposed aviation authorities and UA-cam documentary makers have erroneously stated that magnesium alloy engine cases and oil coolers and poorly designed cooling baffles and other reasons were the causes of the notorious engine fires on B29's, first of all only a limited number of pre production B29's had engine's with magnesium alloy engine cases, before they went into production the engine's were switched to forged steel cases and it had nothing to do with engine fires as to why they did it, the biggest cause of engine fires on the B29's were induction fires in the intake system, by going to direct injection it solved that problem.
If they'd have used direct injection on the Merlin engine they would indeed have been slightly less powerful but by the same token they'd have gotten more range (which the Spitfire certainly could have used) along with eliminating the negative G problem and induction fires in them, B29's and the R3350 engine weren't the only things that had induction fires, all of those aircraft engine's that mixed fuel in before the supercharger were at risk from it happening and it did indeed happen to all of them, just not nearly as often as in the R3350 engine but it did happen.
Like the mechanically driven supercharger vs the hydro coupled variable speed supercharger I honestly think the reason they ultimately selected the carburetor instead of direct injection was simplicity, simplicity equals less development time and more units produced per man hour, any talk about more HP or anything else is just getting sucked down a rabbit hole of window dressing and chest thumping, Britain had to produce as many Merlin engine's as they could and get them installed into as many aircraft as they could at that point and couldn't afford to get bogged down by months or maybe even over a year of development time messing around with a direct injection system.
@@dukecraig2402 indeed, i stand corrected since writing that comment, gregs planes channel looked at why: the brits did research into fuel injection but for whatever reason the research lead decided to purposely miss represent the power and fuel saving advantages and this was then taken as lore in the 30s without question - so there was plenty of time.
it was only sir stanley hooker that uses some maths to work out how to get a lot more out of the super charger that really won the day. that and access to ever increasing octane ratings for fuels really bumped the power figures. the 150 stuff having a really horrible smell too apparently. as ever political infighting and upper class connections hampered progress.
@@mrrolandlawrence
I don't remember that being in a video by Greg but I have no doubt he'd have covered it, he's pretty thorough about things like that.
As far as having plenty of time to develop it I don't necessarily agree with that, before the war both US and British aircraft and aircraft engine development was hampered by economic depression's, political infighting and inner service fighting over budgets, things like that coupled with the fact that developments in those fields generally creeps along at a snail's pace compared to something like automobiles and motorcycle's.
It's for those very reasons that the Allison engine didn't have a 2 stage 2 speed supercharger version when the P51 was developed, the US Army funded the development of the Allison engine since the mid 30's but they wanted turbos for the 2nd stage of the supercharger systems on their engine's, the US Navy used 2 stage superchargers on their engine's but they didn't use the Allison so they weren't going to fund the development of one, and with an economic depression in full swing and no aircraft in production yet using any version of the engine Allison sure didn't have the money themselves to develop one.
Even the 2 stage version of the Merlin wasn't being built by Rolls-Royce yet, it was still in it's final stages of development and wasn't fielded until mid 1942, the Packard built Merlin's were also still single stage at that point of course, I'm not sure exactly when they started making their 2 stage Merlin's but I'm sure it couldn't have been until after Rolls-Royce got everything rolling in England.
Even after each country was in the war and their aircraft and aircraft engine manufacturers had blank checks for development look at how many aircraft each one had on drawing boards and in development that never did see action because they weren't ready until just after the war.
For a bunch of good reasons in the time before England was at war you can bet the powers that be in the RAF figured that between development time and production time and costs it was better to have 2 carburetor Merlin's produced than than 1 fuel injection Merlin, sometimes in life you just can have it all.
Never saw this. Thanks for sharing
He made it to 72. Not bad at all for a man who liked his food, cigars and booze very much indeed, if you catch my drift.
Absolutely Brilliant 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
RIP Robbie
First class TV
Nice 😁💓🌹💓 robbie having fun !!!!
Met him in kings lynn Norfolk, an amazing clever man. RIP Robbie 😢
Wonderful video, really, thank you so much!! Coltrane, what a cool mate he is
"Despite the fact that Lady Dorothy had given him a blower, he never came first." Hmmm...
RIP Robie Cotrane and sound in 24:32 mercedes compressor....
Same basic design as what we use today, just more efficient and sophisticated
Yes Robby rest in peace. God bless you always.
WOW. only have one word.... SUPERLATIVE.
Robbie was brilliant in this show right down his street you could see his passion.
Not just in Harry zzz potter.
Good to see this again!
Ahh! But of course, post war, the Spanish got the best of both worlds so to speak. They had a lot of He-111's & Me-109's 'war surplus' from Germany but couldn't source spare engines, so they re-engined them with Merlins. 😀
All the German planes in the 60's film Battle of Britain were repainted serving Spanish Airforce craft & crews & you can see the exhaust pipes are at the top of the cowling (RR Merlin) & not bottom (inverted DB601)
Germany had to contend with lower octane fuel compared to the Allies, hence their reliance on turbosuperchargers and water/meth injection in FW190's. Rather ingenious solution tbf.
So thanks to Frenchman Jacques Schneider (SchneiderTrophy) the British learnt how to develop high performance engines which came in very handy for the Battle of Britain.
Fantastic!
Its like loosing an uncle. Missing him already.
Should thank (Big up) Sir Stanley Hooker (CBE, FRS, DPhil, BSc, FRAeS, MIMechE, FAAAS), who’d made vast “efficiency improvements” on Supercharger technology for Rolls Royce ~ a brilliant mathematician & jet engine engineer ~ who’d also designed the Pegasus engine used in the Harrier !
Brilliant.
Ah Rorbie Cooltrain - will be missed.
10:32 nicely snuck in.
Great series. Why don't we have more of these programmes?
'in spite of Lady Dorothy giving Tim (Birkin) a blower he never came first.'