Gnome Omega
| Omega | |
|---|---|
| |
| Gnome 7 Omega on display at the Royal Air Force Museum London | |
| Type | Rotary aero engine |
| Manufacturer | Société des Moteurs Gnome |
| First run | Template:Avyear |
| Major applications | Blériot XI Bristol Boxkite |
| Number built | 4,000 until 1914[1] (more later) |
The Gnome 7 Omega (commonly called the Gnome 50 hp) is a French seven-cylinder, air-cooled aero engine.[2] 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] rotary engine produced in quantity. Its introduction revolutionized the aviation industry[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]
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
- A Vlaicu I
- A Vlaicu II
- ASL Valkyrie
- ABC Gnat
- Avro Type 500
- Avro-Burga Monoplane
- Blackburn Mercury
- Blackburn Type D Monoplane
- Blériot XI
- Blériot XIII
- Breguet Type III
- Breguet Type IV
- Bristol Boxkite
- Bristol Racing Biplane
- Bristol Monoplane
- Bristol-Prier P.1
- Bristol-Coanda School Monoplane
- Bristol-Coanda T.B.8
- Caudron Type B
- Deperdussin 1910 monoplane
- Deperdussin 1912 Racing Monoplane
- François Denhaut
- Fabre Hydravion
- Farman HF.6 Militaire
- Farman III
- FBA Type A
- Grahame-White Type VII
- Grahame-White Type XV
- Howard Wright 1910 Biplane
- Koolhoven Heidevogel
- Lakes Waterbird
- London and Provincial Fuselage Biplane
- Morane-Borel monoplane
- Nieuport II
- Paalson Type 1
- Paulhan-Tatin Aéro-Torpille No.1
- Paulhan biplane
- Pemberton-Billing P.B.9
- Radley-England waterplanes
- Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.3
- Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.4
- Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.2
- Sommer 1910 biplane
- Short S.27
- Short Tandem Twin
- Short Triple Twin
- Short S.47 Triple Tractor
- Short S.62
- Sopwith Bee
- Sopwith Sparrow
- Van Meel Brikken
- Vickers No.6 Monoplane
- Vickers No.7 Monoplane
- Vickers Boxkite School Biplane
- Voisin 1907 biplane
- Voisin Type de Course
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]
- 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]
- 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
- ^ a b c d Nahum, Andrew (1999). The rotary aero engine. London: Science Museum. pp. 12–14. ISBN 1-900747-12-X.
- ^ a b c National Air and Space Museum - Gnome Omega Retrieved: 11 November 2010.
- ^ a b Murphy, Justin D. (2005). Military aircraft, origins to 1918 : an illustrated history of their impact. Santa Barbara, Calif. [u.a.]: ABC-CLIO. pp. 32–33. ISBN 1-85109-488-1.
- ^ a b Lumsden 2003, p. 152.
- ^ Shuttleworth Collection - Blackburn Monoplane Retrieved: 5 November 2010.
- ^ "Gnome Omega No. 1 Rotary Engine". Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
- ^ http://neam.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&layout=edit&id=1146
Bibliography
- Lumsden, Alec. British Piston Engines and their Aircraft. Marlborough, Wiltshire: Airlife Publishing, 2003. ISBN 1-85310-294-6.
Further reading
- Moteurs d'Aviation Gnome (PDF) (in French). 49, Rue Lafitte, Paris: Société Des Moteurs Gnome. 1910. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
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External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gnome Omega.