Yakovlev M-501 - The BIGGEST Piston Radial Ever Designed

The Yakovlev M-501 was originally a 42-cylinder monstrosity, designed to power the USSR's heavy bombers after the end of WWII. When it was discovered that jets would be a more viable option, the colossus was given a second life powering fast attack missile boats. If the 42 cylinders weren't enough already, they later upgraded it to a 56 cylinder version, then coupled two together into a 112 cylinder abomination.

This is the story of the single largest aviation radial engine ever designed and produced.

Script was written, narrated, and recorded by Ben Bailey

#WW2Aviation #AviationHistory

[paulkurilecz]

Russian Engineering is really quite amazing. It is a classic case of making what you need from what you have. BTW, the Soviet style economy with its approach to engineering did produce a number of scares in the American intelligence and military communities. The best one, I think, was when it was found out that the Typhoon Class submarines were being built with pressure hulls constructed of titanium. Titanium is an extremely difficult material to weld requiring inert gas. The American intelligence community thought that the shipyards constructing the hulls had found a new way to weld titanium. Actually they had not. They just essentially built an airtight box around the hulls and flooded it with argon. They then sent the welders in with air lines and breathing hoods.

[mmakine]

I was involved in a project, where ex Finnish Navy missile boats, Project 205ER's were sold to Egypt. Starting of a 56 cyl M-504 is an unbeliveable feeling.

[Chima]

I worked at this Zvezda Plant in what is now St-Petersburg from 1985 till 1990. Know these diesel engines well.
Among other things, they powered hydrofoil boats “Rocket” and “Meteor”, mobile diesel power generators for arctic bases and strategic installations.
I gained an excellent industrial experience that’s served me well here in North America.

[markmark]

This made me think of the B-36 and it's mighty engines and incredible maintenance, the jet/turbine engines sure were a GIANT leap forward for aviation. I remember as a child going to the airport to watch the propellor airliners start up and take off, stewardesses would invite children onboard for a tour of the plane and give them little wings...that was about 70 years ago...

[daniel]

I'm thrilled with all these engine videos, there's little else out there on YT quite like them. Keep up the great work!

[jacklav]

Thank you so much for making this video, it is streets above almost anything out there because you have gone to the length to find and present images and descriptions of the actual parts. The master rod with the lock wiring! Thing of beauty.

[randmayfield]

Back in the mid 70's I was in the Coast Guard and we did four week fisheries patrols off the west coast. I really enjoyed the interactions with the Soviets and if there was one phrase that I would use to define them it would be: "hard working". I remember their life boats were so much better than ours. They were fully covered and painted bright international orange. They would have us over for dinner and out would come the vodka. It was considered rude behavior to refuse a toast. They loved getting visitors drunk so knowing this, I brought a jar of hot Hungarian pickled chilies. They have a very low threshold for hot foods so every time they posed a toast, I would pose a counter toast where everyone had to eat a chili. I would spout some bullsh*t about this is how we toast the motherland where I come from. It put a stop to trying to get us drunk. They just couldn't had hot foods. Lol

[thepwee]

This channel kept me entertained for 9 days in the hospital after my open heart surgery… thank you.. I learned a ton of interesting stuff..

[sultros]

What an amazing engine. Love what you’re doing with this channel. Felt polished and well done over all, especially the narration. Keep up the great work!

[abdelkadermankour]

I jop in this biggest machine 8years
This is marine motors M517 with 56 piston , I'm very happy too watch your documentary.
🇩🇿Algeria mechanic 👨‍🔧

[thodkats]

The first thing that comes to mind, is that there was no Russian Engineering, but Soviet engineering. Saying 'Russian' is unfair to the many other nationalities that participated in the achievements of the Soviet Union.

[cyrilio]

glad the algorithm recommended me this channel

[lightunicorn]

This meant as 100% encouragement if you keep this up and you enjoy this I you could very much be the next Greg's airplanes and automobiles but specified for engines I think your filling a real niche if you keep this up.

[AddictedtoProjects]

Oh yes! Immediately clicked on the video when I saw you had released a new one. Especially something as funky as this M-501 engine. Thank you!! :D

[TyMoore]

Great video! What a beast of an engine! Interestingly enough, the boat it powered was a fast attack, guided missile boat that was capable of better than 60 knots. Powerful enough to haul like a 100 water skiers if the wake turbulance didn't completely bury them in water!
Keep it up, I subscribed to your channel! 👍

[igorvasin]

I remembered a story that a friend told me. in one remote village in Russia, there was a diesel power plant. people in the village took turns on duty in it for many years and then one day it broke down. called in the experts. experts found out that this engine worked without repair for 60 years! from post-war times. and never broke! it was repaired and the power plant continued to work!

[gizmo]

Informative. Educational. Hardly anything skipped out in effort to save a little talking. Kudos. Keep up the good work! If I may. Maybe talking about one of those upside down engines. And the way it all works.

[martij]

The algorithm is taking you on a tour my man. Enjoy it, your videos are great.

[anthonyxuereb]

I can't imagine those lengthy heavy engines fixed to a wing with a huge propellor spinning and not destroying the engine mounts, conventional radials are much shorter.
They found their home in a boat or land based installation and put to use and still going, must be ultra reliable by now.

[LesSharp]

The Napier Nomad was another large diesel engine that didn't quite get to fly, and also featured turbo-compounding. A very neat design.