7. Drive System

In Figure 7-1, the power to drive the supercharger is plotted as a function of the rated altitude of the engine. For a rated height of 4 to 6 km, the supercharger consumes 10 to 15% of the total engine output. By the time the 22 km altitude is reached, the supercharger consumes (in theory) the same power as the engine driving it, therefore at 22 km rated altitude an engine will provide 1,000 HP to the propeller and require 1,000 HP to the supercharger drive shaft, therefore requiring a total crankshaft output of 2,000 HP.