I used to go to every unlimited Hydroplane race that I could possibly get to.
Listening to those Allison’s and Merlins running in the big boats and watching the black smoke come out when they put the boot to it with Nitrous was a pure pleasure.
Today they run helicopter turbine engines and I no longer go. I hate the sound of those thing whining.
Give me a piston engine every time.
Between the unlimited hydro’s and the Reno air races, alot of Merlins went up in smoke. I’m with you on the big boats, the jets kinda did in the whole program for me. Notice drag racing is still using the piston engine, as is Reno, even though they have a jet class, the unlimited class is still powered by piston.
Do you know the difference between a pilot and a turbine engine?
The turbine quits whining after fuel cut-off