Register

Supercharging: Bolt-On Power

It's hot. The airplane's heavy. The strip is high and short. Wouldn't sea level power be nice to have right now?

They’ve been around since before airplanes walked the planet. They’re simple—an air compressor that shoves more air into the engine so it can burn more fuel and produce more power. They were staples of many of the engines that gave World War II fighters, bombers and transports their impressive performance. Yet, for all their value, superchargers have largely faded from the general aviation scene. 

Almost. 

Rick Durden

Senior Editor Rick Durden has written for Aviation Consumer since 1994 and specializes in aviation law. Rick is an active CFII and holds an ATP with type ratings in the Douglas DC-3 and Cessna Citation. He is the author of The Thinking Pilot’s Flight Manual or, How to Survive Flying Little Airplanes and Have a Ball Doing It, Vols. 1 & 2.