Performance

Limiting & Recommended Airspeeds

Performance data subject to change without notice due to continuing development, testing, and refinement.

The Power Plant in Blue Thunder...

Ryan Falconer's history in engine development began while working for Andy Granatelli building the Novi engines for the Indy 500. For the past 29 years his company has built engines for numerous racing teams that have won the Indy 500 and other prestigious races. Roger Penske, Andy Granatelli, and Galles Racing have also been among his Indy customers. In 1973 Ryan began development work for Chevrolet. He has supplied engines to many of the top racing teams in Can-Am and Trans-Am.

In 1980 Ryan was asked by Chevrolet to develop the first V-6 Chevrolet Indy engine, which qualified and completed the 500. In 1984 development began on the Chevrolet GTP Corvette which gained considerable notoriety. At the completion of the V-6 GTP project, he was developing over 1200 HP from the 3.0 liter V-6 engine. It was during this time that Ryan decided to look at build a V-12 engine.

The Falconer V-12 engine was developed by Ryan Falconer Industries (RFI). The engine has been used in racing boats, specialty race and streetcars, trucks, airboats, and now airplanes. This engine  incorporates the latest splayed-valve cylinder head technology and the highest quality internal components  developed for racing, such as Carrillo rods and J.E. hypereutectic pistons. The Falconer V-12 airplane engine was developed by RFI especially for the Thunder Mustang with specific unique features which include: special long-runner, electronic, sequential, tuned-port injection system with end-entry plenums for narrow width; 10.9 to 1 compression ratio, special grind hydraulic roller cam for low rpm horsepower and torque, and additional bosses on the drive end of the crankcase to provide greater clamp up area for the gearbox. It is interesting to note that the exhaust port spacing is almost exactly 3/4 of the Rolls Royce Merlin which powers the North American Aviation P-51.

Blue Thunder's Falconer V-12 has been modified to improve performance. Known as Version 3.0, the V-12 is normally aspirated and puts out 660 hp at a density altitude of 5050 feet. This altitude is the elevation of the Reno-Stead Airport. At sea level, 782 ft./lb of torque are generated. The engine is controlled by dual and fully redundant Motec FADEC (Fully Automated Digital Electronic Control) systems with dual ignition and fuel programs.

GEARBOX:

 Developed for the Thunder Mustang, this project was headed by B. J. Schramm. Final design and analysis was done by Mr. Oswald Webb of England (now retired), who worked on the original Merlin engine reduction and was Chief Design Engineer for GKN, the largest gear works in Europe. The unit is designed to endure up to 1500 HP, pulling 13.5 g's, doing one second snap rolls for more than 400 hours! We expect some owners to hop-up the engine and go racing, and we want the gearbox to last. The reduction ratio is 2.8 to 1. It is a straight cut spur gear arrangement with a quill shaft between crankshaft and drive gear.

PROPELLER:

 The propeller is an 8.47 foot diameter, constant-speed, 3-blade, manufactured by Hartzell Propellers. Extensive engineering was applied to ensure the optimum design of each component of this system. With the V-12 turning 4500 rpm, the gear box ratio of 2.8:1 turns the prop at 1607 rpm for the best prop efficiency and high speed. The 134 lb. propeller blades are CNC machined from solid aluminum forgings. The gyroscopic effect of the prop on take-off is negligible with only a slight yaw during climb. the weight increase over the stock 4-blade unit is 34 pound per blade. Because there is one less blade, this results in a gain of only 2 pounds for the entire prop assembly.

ACCESSORIES:

 Developed and designed so that each of the two ribbed, serpentine belts will drive the entire five pumps and prop governor, should one belt fail. A third belt drives the alternator only. Supercharger development, for high altitude or higher horsepower applications, is in final testing.

Engine Specifications