Our sources indicated that the engine was rated at 550 HP in 1937. I'm not sure why there is a discrepancy in accounts about the rating.
Marty,
I believe the R-1430 is a transposition of R-1340-S1H1 which is the 600 HP Radial. I am more inclined to believe what I read as to which engine was in AE's Electra 10-E powered by Pratt & Whitney "R-1340" Wasp S3H1, 600 hp (450 kw) each; 15 produced. "The version used by Amelia Earhart." I say this because there is a plethora of erroneous information on Wiki. I can post the link to my research but I am unable to figure out how to insert a link on this forum being so new to me. If you could help me with that I would appreciate it. Also, where the heck is the spell checker here? I hate making typos.
Bob, TIGHAR has posted several other documents and/or references to documents that state that the P&W R-1340 S3H1 engines mounted on NR-16020, Serial No.(c/n) 1055, AE's ship, were 550 hp. The first of these is the Aircraft Inspection Report dated 5-19-37. This was the Bureau of Air Commerce report issued after the repairs necessitated by the Ford Island accident were completed. I have attached a copy of this report below and linked it here.
http://tighar.org/Projects/Earhart/Archives/Documents/Reports/AircraftInspection.pdfIn the past, there has been considerable discussion of the aircraft in the thread
Aircraft & Powerplant, Airworthiness Certificate(s); fuel capacity.
The first reference, link, was provided by Gary LaPook in Reply # 1 of this post on: November 24 2011.
http://video.msnbc.msn.com/nightly-news/45417206/#45417206Here is a link, again from Gary LaPook in the same thread, to the documents mentioned in the above video. Each of the pictures here can be to stopped for a closer look. Page numbers 18 & 19 show the Application for an Aircraft License for the aircraft. Page # 20 is a copy of the Aircraft License issued, dated Aug 15, 1937. Note that these documents all list the engines having 550 hp.
http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/New-Amelia-Earhart-Photos-134331928.htmlIn Reply # 12 of this thread, Ric Gillespie said "There is no mystery about the documents. We have copies of the same paperwork. We're still working along on getting the full file of BAC documents and correspondence relating to c/n 1055 rendered legible so that we can put it up on the TIGHAR website." Since this was dated November 25, 2011, I assume that Ric has been too busy with other things (symposium and new expedition) to complete this work or I have not been able to locate it.
Another comment about the horse power. The military uses the term METO power (maximum except take-off) to identify the absolute power setting to never exceed except for a very short time for emergency operations. I don't think this a term commomly used in civil aviation and I have never seen a civil aviation engine rated that way.