Fw 190 engine management system

[taffy2jeffmorgan]

Hi All, I have just been reading about the "Kommandogerat" the engine control system fitted to the BMW 801 engine of the Fw190, it controlled fuel mixture,propeller pitch,boost and magneto timing.

 

I assume that it would have lessened the work load for the pilot, obviously years before its time, but was it a compete success ?   and was a similar system ever tried and tested with British and American fighters ? 

 

Cheers. 

[GreenSound]

Slightly off topic, but wouldn't every aircraft "automatically" control the magneto timing? That's the system that fires the spark plugs, right? I could be totally wrong, and if I am, I would love to know how it is really working

[Finkeren]

AFAIK no similar “single unit” engine control system was ever put into production, but a late-war allied fighter fitted with constant speed prop, automatic mixture, automated radiator control and boost pressure regulator would have had pretty much the same reduction in work load.

 

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

The Kommandogerät was a mechanical-hydraulic system with many intricate parts. Therefore, the automation came at a price of increased weight and complexity. Other designers thought it was not worth it.

 

It lives on in spirit as electronic engine control units. They now look more like mobile phones, but the function remains largely the same. In that sense, the Kommandogerät was a success. 

[=420=Syphen]

6 hours ago, taffy2jeffmorgan said:

Hi All, I have just been reading about the "Kommandogerat" the engine control system fitted to the BMW 801 engine of the Fw190, it controlled fuel mixture,propeller pitch,boost and magneto timing.

 

I assume that it would have lessened the work load for the pilot, obviously years before its time, but was it a compete success ?   and was a similar system ever tried and tested with British and American fighters ? 

 

Cheers. 

 

The Americans certainly tested the heck out of it.  Here is the NACA Report on the Kommandogerat    https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19930093290

 

It's a very technical description of the whole system. Worth a read if you nerd out on this tech stuff like I do. 

[taffy2jeffmorgan]

Thanks for that Hawkeye, an interesting read

[Fern]

Kommandogerats, MECs, EECs, ECUs, DEECs, DECs, and FADECs. 60 years and we have FADECs..Crazy to think most engines run on electrical systems with no hydromechanical backups now.

[ZachariasX]

On 8.4.2018 at 6:04 PM, Fern said:

Kommandogerats, MECs, EECs, ECUs, DEECs, DECs, and FADECs. 60 years and we have FADECs..Crazy to think most engines run on electrical systems with no hydromechanical backups now.

That's beacuse the hydromechanical stuff tends to fail as well and makes things complicated.