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Aviation History
1922
1922 - 0118.PDF
FEBRUARY 23, 1922 HARNESSING 1,000 HORSE POWER A Visit to the Napier Works IT is probably no exaggeration to say that since the early days of flying, when the 50 h.p. Gnome rotary enabled the aeroplanes of that day really to fly, instead of making long " hops," no engine has won such rapid, and yet lasting, popularity as has the Napier " Lion " of modern times. And while on the subject of the Gnome, it is interesting too, to note that the main, or at any rate, one of the most important causes for this popularity, is low weight per horse power developed. Compared with other engines of that time, the 50 h.p. Gnome, was a featherweight. Indeed, it was without the Napier ' Lion ' engine, that on the cross-Channel services, it is possible to run on an average load of but 60 per cent, of the maximum." That, in a nutshell, is the secret of the startling success of'this engine. It should be added, however, that lightness in itself, although a vastly important desidera tum, is not sufficient to " make " an engine. Reliability, smooth running, low fuel consumption, etc., are also of im portance, but when, as in the Napier, these features are combined with light weight, the result is an engine that is difficult to beat. THE NAPIER " CUB " : On the left, the bottom half of the crankcase. Note the substantial stiffening webs. On the right, the top half of the crankcase, with four cylinders in place, on the rotatable bench used for erecting the engine. doubt the engine which made flying practicable. In modern times history is repeating itself in the Napier " Lion," whiah has, if not made flying possible, at any rate, made it approach more closely to being a commercial proposition. In his paper, read before the recent Air Conference, the Director of Research (Brig.-Gen. Bagnall-Wild) paid a warm tribute to the Napier " Lion." " It is only now," he said, " with With that far-sightedness which has been characteristic of Napiers for a number of years, the firm was not content to rest on the laurels won with the Napier " Lion," and as soon as that engine had passed through its teething troubles, and been firmly established as a production job, the designers set to work to evolve a larger engine, incorporating many of the features which had been instrumental in making the SOME CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF THE NAPIER "CUB": 1, Connecting rod assembly. There is one master rod and three auxiliary rods, one of which is attached to the big-end cap. 2, The crankshaft. Note the large roller bearings. 3, The reduction gear and propeller Shaft. 4. Two of the cylinders. There are four valves in each. Il8
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