Existing comment:
Gnome MonoSouppape B-2 Engine (1915). This was the most famous rotary engine, a type of radial having a fixed crankshaft around which the cylinders rotated. Such an arrangement permitted better cylinder cooling which in turn allowed higher horsepower ratings. These engines were light and compact for their power, and therefore were used mainly on fighter aircraft where speed and maneuverability were especially important. Problems were encountered in flight due to excessive engine torque and gyroscopic forces and in high oil and fuel consumption. After World War I, they were replaced by conventional radial engines as engine cooling problems began to be solved. |