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Aviation History
1937
1937 - 0210.PDF
V «o FLIGHT. JANUARY 21, 1937. COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT ENGINES A Reviezv of the Many Types of Widely Differing Horse-power, now Available for Passenger Aircraft T« HE greatly increased demand for civil and military aeroplane engines has given scope for a variety of engines the horse-power' figures of which now range from as low as 80 up to 1,000 and over. Although the specifications of most aircraft types provide only for one make of engine, in actual fact, half a dozen or more makes could be used as alternatives if desired. Keen com petition is welcome for its power to stimulate an industry and assure first-class products of high efficiency and great reliability—though it is not suggested that the British aero engine manufacturers need any stimulant. Several engines available to commercial operators are now rated on 87-octane fuel, but as yet none on 100-octane. This is to be ex pected, but it is possible in the future that fuel of 100-octane value will be used. During the last year considerable progress has been made with the latter. In long-range airline s-ervices the commercial advantage would probably be most definite. The high compression ratio needed for low fuel con sumption has, however, brought with it problems and troubles besides those encoun tered due to corrosion of valves, sparking plugs, etc. Also the actual cost of 100-octane fuel and the difficulty of obtaining it in quantity makes it impracticable for would-be operators at the present time. It has been estimated that for an engine with cylinders of about i\ to 2 litres capacity, a compression ratio of 8 to 1, and moderate boost, a fuel consumption of 0.381b./b.h.p./hr. is now possible ALVIS Alvis, Ltd., Coventry. I MPORTANT announcements are expected from Coventry within the next few weeks with regard to the three Alvis types which are now in process ol production. Alcides, Pelides and Maeonides Major by name, these engines are known more briefly as the " 18 L," " 14 N," and " 14 M." The Maeonides Major (14 M) is an exceptionally compact, fully supercharged, two-row radial giving 650 h.p. normal at A pictorial comparison of Armstrong Siddeley Tiger IX and Cheetah IX. Both these engines are available with V.P. Airscrews. 3,000 r.p.m. and 13,000 ft. Only 38 inches in diameter, this engine weighs 830 lb. The Alcides (18 L) and Pelides (14 N) are offered in moder ately supercharged form giving 1,300 and 1,000 h.p. at 5,000 ft. respectively, and in " Major " form fully supercharged to give 1,225 h.p. at 13,000 ft. and 1,000 h.p. at 12,000 ft. respectively. Fuel of 87 octane value is specified in each case. ARMSTRONG SIDDELEY Armstrong Siddeley Motors, Ltd., Parkside, Coventry. AMONG the medium-sized units suitable for use on feeder lines are the Lynx IVc and Cheetah V and IX. These two types in their latest form are the outcome of many years' development. The seven-cylinder radial Lynx IVc is of 45.0 inches diameter and gives 225 h.p. for take-off at i,9°° r.p.m., and 240 h.p. maximum at 2,090 r.p.m. Installed in the Airspeed Courier (Type A. S. 5) the economic cruising out put, which gives a speed of 132 m.p.h., The Bristol Aquila and Pegasus engines are both noted for clean lines among their type. The Aquila has, of course, sleeve - valves and the characteristic immunity from pro jections is well illus trated.
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