B-17 Bomber Flying Fortress – The Queen Of The Skies Turbosupercharger

The turbo-supercharger was installed in each of the four engines of a B-17 and gave it the ability to fligh at high altitude without loss of power.

The supercharger alowed a greater mass of air and fuel mix to be thrust into the cylinders at heights where the air was thin. Full power could be achieved at very high altitudes with the added benefit of less wind resistance. The aircraft could therefore fly faster, further and higher on the same power and, at the same time, make itself a more difficult target for anti-aircraft artillery and fighter interceptors.