Gnome Omega
| Omega | |
|---|---|
| 300px | |
| Gnome 7 Omega on display at the Royal Air Force Museum London | |
| Type | Rotary aero engine |
| Manufacturer | Société des Moteurs Gnome |
| First run | 1908 |
| Major applications | Blériot XI Bristol Boxkite |
| Number built | 4,000 until 1914[1]:{{{3}}} (more later) |
| Unit cost | £520 in 1909[1]:{{{3}}} |
The Gnome 7 Omega (commonly called the Gnome 50 hp) is a French seven-cylinder, air-cooled aero engine.[2]:{{{3}}} It was shown at the Paris Aero Salon held in December 1908 and was first flown in 1909. It was the world's first[1]:{{{3}}} rotary engine produced in quantity. Its introduction revolutionized the aviation industry[3]:{{{3}}} and it was used by many early aircraft. It produced 50 horsepower (37 kW) from its capacity of 8 litres (488 cubic inches).[4] A Gnome Omega engine powers the 1912 Blackburn Monoplane, owned and operated by the Shuttleworth Collection, the oldest known airworthy British-designed aeroplane worldwide.[5] A two-row version of the same engine was also produced, known as the Gnome 14 Omega-Omega or Gnome 100 hp. The prototype Omega engine still exists, and is on display at the United States' National Air and Space Museum.[6]
Contents
Variants
- Gnome 7 Omega
- Single-row 7-cyl. original version; 50 hp (37 kW).
- Gnome 14 Omega-Omega
- Two-row, 14-cylinder version using Omega cylinders; 100 hp (75 kW).
Applications
Gnome 7 Omega
Gnome 14 Omega-Omega
- Avro 501
- Bleriot XXIII
- Bristol-Gordon England G.E.2
- Coventry Ordnance Works Biplane 10
- Nieuport IV.H floatplane
- Short S.41 Tractor Biplane
- Short S.57 Seaplane
- Short S.64 Folder Seaplane
- Short Admiralty Type 74
Engines on display
- The very first Gnome rotary engine ever built, Gnôme Omega No. 1, is on display at the National Air and Space Museum, Washington, D.C.[2]:{{{3}}}
- A preserved production Gnome 7 Omega engine is on public display at the Royal Air Force Museum London.
- A restored Omega is on display at the New England Air Museum, Windsor Locks, CT.[7]
Specifications (7 Omega)
Data from Lumsden.[4]
General characteristics
- Type: 7-cylinder, single-row, rotary engine
- Bore: 110 mm (4.3 in)
- Stroke: 120 mm (4.7 in)
- Displacement: 8 L (488.5 cu in)
- Length: 79 cm (31 in)
- Diameter: 84 cm (33 in)
- Dry weight: 75 kg (165 lb)
Components
- Valvetrain: pressure-driven inlet valves were located on the pistons[1]:{{{3}}}
- Oil system: Total loss, castor oil
- Cooling system: Air-cooled
- Reduction gear: Direct drive, right-hand tractor, left-hand pusher
Performance
- Power output: 37 kW (50 hp) at 1,200 rpm
See also
- Comparable engines
- Related lists
References
Notes
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- Lumsden, Alec. British Piston Engines and their Aircraft. Marlborough, Wiltshire: Airlife Publishing, 2003. ISBN 1-85310-294-6.
Further reading
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External links
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- Smithsonian/NASM's page on Gnome Omega No.1
- Video of April 2009 ground runup of a restored Gnome Omega in the USA
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 National Air and Space Museum - Gnome Omega Retrieved: 11 November 2010.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Lumsden 2003, p. 152.
- ↑ Shuttleworth Collection - Blackburn Monoplane Retrieved: 5 November 2010.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ http://neam.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&layout=edit&id=1146
