Isotta-Fraschini Delta

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The Delta was a 12-cylinder inverted-V aircraft engine built by Isotta-Fraschini prior to and during World War II. It is a fairly rare example of a large air-cooled inline engine, which normally have cooling problems with the rearmost cylinders. It produced about 750 hp in common versions, although others were rated up to 900 hp. The Delta was not widely used, although it could be found on a number of production aircraft and some advanced prototypes.

Although the air-cooling might be considered an anachronism even during the 1930s, the engine included a number of otherwise advanced features. For instance, the valves were powered by dual overhead cams driven by power shafts at the rear of the engine. Exhaust ports were arranged to exit toward the middle of the engine, one cylinder bank being the mirror of the other, allowing the piping to be ganged below the engine nacelle.

Users of the engine included some versions of the Reggiane Re.2001, Caproni Ca.310 (Ca. 313, Ca.314), Caproni Ca.331, Ambrosini S.A.I.107 (S.A.I. 207 and 403) and the French Caudron C.714 (C.760). It also powered the famous Caproni Campini N.1's motorjet engine. There were attempts to fit it to the Henschel Hs 129 to produce a "C" model, but these never came to fruition.