Originally posted by HybridSS
Not entirely true. I worked on that particular engine for 6 years. Its a power house for sure. Plenty of torque from 46% to 110% of operating rpm range. I think max rpm was around 36,000 rpm so you can do the math on what range of rpm it can provide TQ. I know at ground idle (46%) we dropped the rotor brake and began spinning up the dual rotors (51 ft diameter each) from that rpm. We had to SLOWLY advance the throttle because it would overtorque the drivetrain in an instant.
It does however have limitations...at the lower rpm ranges to get that large amount of tq requires some very hot ITT's...which wear parts much quicker.. I think with a reduction drive and the right tranny combo that engine could be made to do wonderous things. Of course the cost could be more than practical. But it would be a fun project.
A better bet would be a PT6...one of the high HP models. They have 1200 ft/lbs on tap coming on at surprisingly low rpms. Actually..they can easily exceed that but thats the limits on the gearbox. You can actually read the Tq on a gauge in the cockpit as you load the engine.
How cool. Could you maybe direct me to a few good sources of info on how to learn about the engine i posted on and the one you mentioned.
Also, with a jet engine that uses a shaft to provide power(to whatever) do they still measure the thrust said engine produces? If so do you know what this particular model puts out? The reason i ask is because of the way the gases are expelled it looks rather easy to harness the thrust for forward momentum by routing the exhuast out the back of a vehicle.