Mercedes D.IVa

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Mercedes D.IVa at the Deutsches Museum. The prominent black piping is the fuel feed from the carburetor.

The Mercedes D.IVa was a 6-cylinder, water cooled, inline engine developed in Germany for use in aircraft in 1917. It replaced the failed Mercedes D.IV inline 8-cylinder engine. The D.IVa was primarily used to power bombers and large reconnaissance aircraft. Unlike most German designs, the D.IVa was relatively advanced, including four valves per cylinder powered by an overhead cam. Designed specifically to be installed in the fuselage, the engine featured a number of design elements intended to reduce its width. For instance, the carburetor was placed behind the engine, feeding fuel to the cylinders via a long pipe. This had the disadvantage of poor fuel distribution. Two versions of the engine were produced in mirror copies, running in opposite directions.

[edit] Specifications

• Bore: 160 mm (6.3 in)
• Stroke: 180 mm (7.1 in)
• Displacement: 21.7 L (1,320 cu in)
• Power: 194 kW (260 hp)

[edit] Applications

• AEG G.IV
• AEG R.I
• Albatros C.X
• Albatros C.XII
• Albatros C.XV
• Friedrichshafen G.III
• Gotha G.III
• Gotha G.V
• Rumpler C.IV
• Zeppelin Staaken R.VI

[edit] References

Gunston, Bill (1986). World Encyclopedia of Aero Engines. Wellingborough: Patrick Stephens, 98.