Re: Packard Radial Diesel DR-980

Posted by Owen_Dyneto On 2011/9/20 9:38:36

Hank - since you weren't aware of it, you'll probably really enjoy reading the history of the diesel aircraft engine program. It was covered several times in PAC's publications, and is covered extensively in Robert Neal's book on the non-automotive Packard engines. I believe one of the endurance records it set stood for about a half-century. The program pretty much came to an end with the death in a flying accident of Lt. Woolson who was Packard's leader of the program. Lt. Woolson & his wife (also part of the program) received about 177 patents on this program which were all assigned to the Packard Motor Car Company.

PS - interestingly, the 177 patents on the diesel radial represents about 10% of all the patents ever assigned to the Packard Motor Car Company, which shows the importance Packard assigned to the project at the time.