Gnome Omega
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| Type | Rotary aero engine |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Gnome Engine Company |
| First run | 1908 |
| Major applications | Blériot XI Bristol Boxkite |
| Number built | 4,000 until 1914[ 1] (more later) |
| Unit cost | £520 in 1909[ 1] |
The Gnome 7 Omega (commonly called the Gnome 50 hp) is a French seven-cylinder, air-cooled aero engine.[ 1] 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[ 1] and it was used by many early aircraft. It produced 50 horsepower (37 kW) from its capacity of 8 litres (488 cubic inches).[1] A Gnome Omega engine powers the 1912 Blackburn Monoplane, owned and operated by the Shuttleworth Collection, the oldest known airworthy British-designed aeroplane worldwide.[2] 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.[3]
sectional views of the Gnome Omega
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 Omega-powered airworthy Blackburn Monoplane of the Shuttleworth Collection
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Gnome 14 Omega-Omega
- Bristol Gordon England G.E.2
- Coventry Ordnance Works Biplane 10
- Nieuport Monoplane
- Short S.41 Tractor Biplane
- Short S.57 Seaplane
- Short S.64 Folder Seaplane
- Short S.74 Admiralty Seaplane
Engines on display
- A preserved Gnome 7 Omega engine is on public display at the Royal Air Force Museum London.
- Another example, the very first Gnome rotary engine ever built, is on display at the National Air and Space Museum, Washington, D.C.[ 1]
- A restored Omega is on display at the New England Air Museum, Windsor Locks, CT. [4]
Specifications (7 Omega)
Brown staining of the Shuttleworth example caused by burnt castor oil
Data from Lumsden.[1]
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
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 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.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gnome Omega. |
- Smithsonian/NASM's page on Gnome Omega No.1
- Video of April 2009 ground runup of a restored Gnome Omega in the USA
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