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Aviation History
1928
1928 - 0758.PDF
AUGUST 16, 1928 THE A.B.C. "HORNET" ENGINE 75 B.H.P. at 1,875 R.P.M. A LIGHT 'plane engine of distinctly novel type has, as brieflyrecorded in FLIGHT last week, recently been produced byA.B.C. Motors, Ltd., of Walton-on-Thames. Known as the " Hornet," the new engine may be said to be a develop-ment of the smaller type (the " Scorpion ") which this firm has had in production for some years, and of which con-siderable numbers are in use on the Continent, especially in Germany. Like the " Scorpion," the " Hornet " is an air-cooled " flat twin," but with the difference that it has four cylinders instead of two. By retaining the " flat-twin "arrangement, an engine of very low frontal area has resulted, and the mechanical balance of the new engine appearslittle short of marvellous, although there must be an un- balanced " slewing" couple with two crank throws.When the " Hornet " is running on the test bench one can feel no trace of vibration at all, and a very small springwasher left on the framework of the test bench has remained there for many hours of running. Not only has this washernot been shaken off, but it does not appear to move at all. While one would scarcely claim this fact as a very scientificproof of the smoothness of the engine, it does provide a rough and ready demonstration of the entire absence ofvibration. True, it still remains to be proved that the " Hornet" is as free from vibration when mounted in anactual aeroplane, but as the Westland Aircraft Works, of Yeovil, have taken delivery of a " Hornet " for the purposeof installing it in a " Widgeon " light 'plane, it should not be very long before the new engine has been thoroughlyflight tested. In the meantime, the way in which the " Hornet " has been produced, gone through its Air Ministrytype tests, etc., augurs well for its future behaviour as a light 'plane engine. It was less than a year ago that Mr. Dennis decided toproduce a new engine of greater power than the successful " Scorpion," and in the interval the engine has been designed,produced, development-tested and type-tested. This would be no mean achievement for even a large firm, and for a smallfirm like A.B.C. Motors it is a very creditable performance [" FLIGHT " Photographs THE A.B.C. " HORNET " ENGINE : Three-quarter front and three-quarter rear views. Of the 4-cyl. flat- twin type, the " Hornet " has a small frontal area and can be installed very neatly in an aeroplane. The valve gears for front and rear cylinders are placed on front and back respectively of the engine. 702
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