Here's How Much Horsepower Boeing's T50 Engines Can Have

Recently, a Boeing T50 turboshaft-powered Porsche 928 has been making waves connected nan internet, including present astatine Jalopnik. Under nan hood of nan "Risky Business"-era P-car, nan T50 powerplant is said to make astir 300 horsepower, but wherever does that guidelines successful position of Boeing T50 horsepower potential? As it move out, definite versions of nan T50 tin make moreover much powerfulness than nan portion successful nan unholy Porsche mashup, while others can't moreover summon half that amount. 

Before we get up of ourselves, what is nan Boeing T50, anyway? It's biggest declare to fame is being nan first turboshaft motor to ever powerfulness a helicopter. Prior to nan early 1950s erstwhile nan T50 turboshaft was released, helicopters were typically powered by piston engines.

Turboshafts are akin to turbofan pitchy engines, isolated from that alternatively of producing thrust for illustration a turbofan, nan turboshaft uses power to turn, well, a shaft to thrust machinery. During its career, nan T50 was utilized mostly successful the Gyrodyne QH-50 Drone Anti-Submarine Helicopter (DASH), which served during nan 1960s, including successful nan Vietnam War. 

We've been referring to this motor by its catchall T50 subject moniker, but Boeing had soul three-digit codes for these engines, sometimes followed by an alphanumeric, which are overmuch much specific. For example, nan Boeing 502 was an highly early type of nan turboshaft circa 1950 that produced 120 horsepower astatine nan shaft. A somewhat later effort, the 502-10C, doubled nan older turboshaft's output to 240 horsepower. By nan mid-1960s, quickly advancing exertion led to the 502-10VC, tin of up to 300 horsepower.

Discussing each of nan dozens of variations nether nan Boeing T50 umbrella is beyond this article's scope, but arsenic installed successful the QH-50 DASH, astir 300 horsepower is nan fig typically bandied about. However, nan apical canine of nan subject Boeing T50 engines is the T50-B0-10, pinch 330 horsepower connected a power-robbing 90-degree time successful nan U.S Navy's QH-50C DASH. According to nan Vertical Flight Society, civilian versions of nan Boeing T50 besides exist, specified arsenic nan Boeing Model 550, rated astatine 425 horsepower pinch nan imaginable for modification into nan 500-horsepower range.

Back connected nan automotive front, galore manufacturer-supported turbine-powered cars existed from nan 1950s each nan measurement into nan 1970s, like this General Motors Firebird II. Ultimately, nan invention grounded arsenic a consequence of precocious substance consumption, mediocre throttle response, and precocious cost. So nowadays, you'll person to make your ain turbine car, conscionable for illustration nan proprietor of our Porsche 928 or this 1976 Bradley GT.