14/10/14 Skagit Aero's Blog: The Hall Springfield Bulldog Has Power!

Sign In or Register
Website of the Antique Airplane Association and the Airpower Museum Last Update: Sep 15 2014

Skagit Aero's Blog: The Hall Springfield

Bulldog Has Power!
Posted in Members | May 08, 2010
Me gusta A una persona le gusta esto. Sé el primero
de tus amigos.

This article is from Skagit Aero's Blog Skagit Aero Museum, who has kindly granted permission to re-publish
on AntiqueAirfield.com.

We have an engine! The Hall Springfield Bulldog project has passed an important milestone with the purchase
of a Pratt & Whitney R-1340. With generous donations from members of the Hall family, Eric Hall and Skip
Hall, the project facilitator Griggs Irving and the person responsible for building the airplane, Jim Jenkins, our
Bulldog is one step closer to taking to the skies.

Ever since the Bulldog project was pulled down from the rafters, there have been a few major components
that have been glaring because of their absence. The airplane was missing both an engine and propeller. Jim
had been keeping his eyes open for a Wasp motor, and earlier this year spotted one online that looked like it
might work.

www.antiqueairfield.com/articles/show/579-skagit-aero-s-blog-the-hall-springfield-bulldog-has-power- 1/5
14/10/14 Skagit Aero's Blog: The Hall Springfield Bulldog Has Power!

The engine had been taken out of an Ag Cat in Arizona for a T-6 project. Bob Marshall, the owner of an
award winning Vultee BT-13, had the engine sitting in a hangar in Montana, so Jim made the trip east to see if
the engine was going to work. Upon arrival, he was pleased with what he saw. The engine, an R-1340-AN-
1, was in good shape. It was going to be a great fit for the Bulldog.

www.antiqueairfield.com/articles/show/579-skagit-aero-s-blog-the-hall-springfield-bulldog-has-power- 2/5
14/10/14 Skagit Aero's Blog: The Hall Springfield Bulldog Has Power!

Stars of the Sky &
Screen
Featuring Interstate &
Great Lakes Aircraft
So Jim and Bob loaded the massive radial into the back of Jim’s pickup and the engine found a new home
here at 3W5. It’s going to need a bit or cosmetic restoration, and maybe some minor internal work, but it’s
exciting to have the big motor sitting here in the restoration shop.

2014 Fly-In
Aug 27 - Sept 1, 2014
• First Timer's Guide •
Thank Yous • Flying at
Blakesburg • Antiques in
Movies • T-Shirts
APM Restoration
Center Campaign
» Home › Videos ›
Antique Airplane
Association ›
Airpower Museum ›
Visiting the APM ›

Manuals and
Drawings › Library of
Flight › Best Practices
Guide › Fly-Ins ›
Chapters › Type Clubs ›
Affiliated Groups ›
Membership Info ›
Insurance Program ›
Features › Contacts ›
Links

The new engine is rated at 600 horsepower for take-off, 550hp continuous. The original Hall Springfield
Bulldog had an R-1340 as well. But a series of complications including an induction problem, fuel lines that
were a bit too small and a controllable pitch propeller that was still being worked out meant the engine wasn’t
developing all of the horsepower it was capable of.

In 1932, it’s estimated the engine was developing somewhere between 525-550 horsepower. The same
motor on the GeeBee R-1 was putting out more than 750hp. With that kind of power, the Bulldog would
have been a more competitive air racer if had not been dismantled after less than a year of flying.

www.antiqueairfield.com/articles/show/579-skagit-aero-s-blog-the-hall-springfield-bulldog-has-power- 3/5
14/10/14 Skagit Aero's Blog: The Hall Springfield Bulldog Has Power!

Having the engine and airframe together here on the shop floor at the museum, it’s amazing to think back to
when these airplanes were designed. There is a whole lot of motor for such a small airplane. It was a relatively
simple recipe for speed in the 1930s. Tuck the smallest airplane possible behind a big engine.

www.antiqueairfield.com/articles/show/579-skagit-aero-s-blog-the-hall-springfield-bulldog-has-power- 4/5
14/10/14 Skagit Aero's Blog: The Hall Springfield Bulldog Has Power!

We don’t plan on trying to set any speed records with the Bulldog. We simply want to see its beautiful lines
arcing across the sky once again. We want to help recreate some of the magic that existed in 1932 when air
racing captured the attention of the nation.

If you are interested in getting involved with the Bulldog project, please contact us here. Our next big task is
to find a propeller. We are accepting donations (including a propeller if you happen to have the one) and hope
to have others join us in this exciting recreation of air racing history.

Archives
Articles September 2014 (12)
August 2014 (24)
Most Recent
July 2014 (31)
RSS Feed
June 2014 (23)
May 2014 (31)

Contacts | Visiting Antique Airfield | About the AntiqueAirfield.com website

Copyright © Antique Aircraft Association and Airpower Museum

www.antiqueairfield.com/articles/show/579-skagit-aero-s-blog-the-hall-springfield-bulldog-has-power- 5/5