NEW AERO ENGINE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 411, 21 December 1932, Page 2

NEW AERO ENGINE

ROLLS-ROYCE CQMPANY PRODUCES DEiSEL TYPE. Definite stcps Lnvards U.c general use of heavy oil aivcraft engines is marked } y the ;**.et th.ai the Roll.--Royce eugiive of this typ.1 has successfully pi-.sed the Bi'ithh Air Ministry tests. The engine iesto.i weighed 15041b, and gave oi" 500 h.p., for 50 hours, says The Referee. Germanv already has in the "Junker" heavy-oil aero engine a power unit tliat weigiis 18001b, and is said to deVelop 720 h.p. The French Government has also been conducting tests with a number of "Jalbert" sixcylind'er 180 h.p. Diesel-engined airplanes, which it has in service. As the Rolsl Royce compression-ig-nition heavy-oil engine is on the secret list of the British air authorities, it is not likely that impoxtant details will be immediately divulged. The important facit is that Rolls Royce, the recognised leadets of the world in auto and aero engine design and construction, have demonstrated to the satisfaction of the British Air Ministry that the heavy-oil type of engine can be successfully ap'plied to a'ero practice. The importance of the acceptance ■of this type of engine for aero work lies in the fact that the oil fuel of 'the C.I. engine is practically non-'com-bustible, materially reducing risks, and increasing the mileage obteinable per gallon, thus extending the cruising range of aircraft. One of the chief difficulties in applying the Diesel type of engine to aeroplanes has been the weight factor, the C.I. engine having to be b'uilt heavier than the petrol engine, to take care of the high' compression 6f about 6001b per square inch, which is required to ignite the mixture in the cylinders. This has proved a stumbling block wherever high speed and light weight have been required, as the weight of C.I. engines limited the lifting capacity of aifplanes and reduced the pay load. ' ■ It now lo°ks as if the time is fast approaching when the C.I. engine will be standar) equipment for aero use, and possibly its acceptance for this work will further ekpedite its adoption f6r ' commercial motor vehicles.