RESULTS covering a year of test runs with the experimental gas turbine-powered motor truck, currently being developed by Boeing, are presented in this paper. Performance and operating characteristics are compared with those of heavy-duty diesel trucks, including results of fuel consumption tests, cooling tests, noise reduction progress, and transmission requirements.
Mechanical engine troubles are recounted, together with a description of some of the engineering methods used in determining causes and corrections. The writer concludes that while neither fuel consumption nor wheel life of the turbine engine can be considered satisfactory in view of the tests, immediate prospects for needed improvement are excellent.
In other respects the turbine engine is described as being already equal or superior to existing truck powerplants.