Gnome Omega
1900s French aircraft piston engine
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The Gnome 7 Omega (commonly called the Gnome 50 hp) is a French seven-cylinder, air-cooled aero engine produced by Gnome et Rhône.[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] aviation rotary engine produced in quantity. Its introduction revolutionized the aviation industry[3] and it was used by many early aircraft. It produced 37 kW (50 hp) from its 8 L (490 cu in) engine capacity.[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.[2]
| Omega | |
|---|---|
| Gnome 7 Omega on display at the Newark Air Museum | |
| Type | Rotary aero engine |
| Manufacturer | Société des Moteurs Gnome |
| First run | 1908 |
| Major applications | |
| Number built | 4,000 until 1914[1] |
Like all early Gnome et Rhône engines the Omega features a single pushrod driven exhaust valve on the cylinder head; the intake valve is located in the piston crown, opening by inertia on the downstroke and feeding the intake charge from the crankcase into the upper part of the cylinder. No throttle is provided, the pilot controls the aircraft's speed by switching off the ignition when necessary.
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
- Avro Type 500
- Avro-Burga Monoplane
- Blackburn Mercury
- Blackburn Type D Monoplane
- Blériot XI
- 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
- Castaibert III[6]
- Caudron Type B
- Deperdussin 1910 monoplane
- François Denhaut's flying boat
- 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
- Porter Gyropachute
- 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
- Voisin L
Gnome 14 Omega-Omega
- Avro 501
- Blériot XIII
- Bleriot XXIII
- Bristol-Gordon England G.E.2
- Coventry Ordnance Works Biplane 10
- Deperdussin 1912 Racing Monoplane
- 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 (488.2 cu in)
- Length: 79 cm (31 in)
- Diameter: 84 cm (33 in)
- Dry weight: 75 kg (165 lb)
Components
- Valvetrain: pressure-driven inlet valves are 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
