EarlyPupTesting1916-69×1000

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KipAero

4 days ago

The first Gnome rotary engine run of the season. Smell that castor oil! ... See MoreSee Less

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If you ever ran a Cox 0.49 as a kid, you've smelled Castrol oil

One fact not often talked about--- those rotary engines did indeed need castor oil. Pilots who flew them breathed the fumes, and had very unromantic digestive problems.

In my youth as a member of the Cross & Cockade, I was extremely privilege to be around several Le Rhone's, but they had modern day piston rings added, so they didn't spray as much oil

Great stuff!!

Preserving old trucks, one run at a time. Gotta love it.

A Cams produced product extremely well engineered

I'm always amazed at the loads the pistons would be under the effect of. Not just the usual compression and tension, but centrifugal as well. Amazing how the system functioned!

Two wings and ailerons, vertical and horizontal stabilizer, rudder……..

Just looked it up, castor oil is polar and thus adheres to metal similar to rapeseed oil - but castor oil has higher viscosity.

Prop turns at the same speed and with the cylinders. When installed in some Farmans and most Bristol Biplanes *Boxkites", the Gnome Omega rotary was mounted behind the pilot with the propeller in front of the cylinders.

Love that engine...

Amazing that mankind went from this to walking on the moon in less than 70 years!

The cylinders rotate?

I'm trying but can't smell it.. 🥲🤣

Didn’t these engines have a recommended overhaul at 25 hours?

what provided the spark to the cylinders? Some form of magneto with slip rings?

Early aero engines had no throttle control - you can hear that the operator is blipping a cutout button

Love the smell of castor!

That looks safe, and a good place to do it.🧐

Is he wearing a period leather flying hat & goggles? 🤔

Never realized that the cylinders actually revolved !

lo vedremo anche qui?

Do they new models STILL spray Castor Oil in you face ??????

My 1960 Porsche 678/4 engine...

Rhone Rotary?

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KipAero

2 weeks ago

The Sopwith Wing Shop at Kip Aero. With both together at the root and a string line down the leading edge, the drift and anti-drift wires are adjusted to true the wings. ... See MoreSee Less