This document discusses the history and classification of aircraft engines. It begins by covering early human flight attempts and the Wright Brothers' development of the first successful aircraft engine. It then outlines the progression of engine technology through WWI and WWII, including the widespread adoption of radial engines. The document also classifies engines according to their cylinder arrangement and discusses ongoing engine design, from modern reciprocating to jet propulsion. It concludes by reviewing the advantages and disadvantages of different engine types and highlighting continued development in the field.

1. CHAPTER ONE
AIRCRAFT POWERPLANT
CLASSIFICATION AND
PROGRESS

2. OBJECTIVES
• TO DEVELOP AN AWARENESS OF
THE DEVELOPMENT OF AIRCRAFT
POWERPLANTS
BE ABLE TO:
DISCUSS THE HISTORY OF AIRCRAFT
ENGINES
EXPLAIN AIRCRAFT ENGINE
CLASSIFICATION

3. INTRODUCTION
• MANKIND WAS FLYING HUNDREDS
OF YEARS BEFORE THE FIRST
SUCCESSFUL HEAVIER THAN AIR
FLIGHT
LIGHTER-THAN-AIR
GLIDERS
MANNED KITES IN ASIA

4. INTRODUCTION (CONT’D)
• FIRST SUCCESSFUL GAS ENGINE
WAS DEVELOPED IN 1860
FIRST SUCCESSFUL A/C ENGINE WAS
DEVELOPED BY WRIGHT BROS
AND THEIR MECHANIC
CHARLES TAYLOR

5. DEVELOPMENT OF AIRCRAFT
ENGINES
• FIRST SUCCESSFUL ENGINE – WRIGHT BROS
4 CYLINDER - 12 HP
• DEVELOPMENT ACCELERATED BY WWI
• POST WWI ENGINES:
OX-5 PACKARD V-12
RADIALS: WASP AND HORNET

6. RADIAL ENGINES
• MAIN ENGINE TYPES FROM WW I UNTIL
THE ADVENT OF TURBINE ENGINES
STILL IN SERVICE TODAY
SINGLE AND DOUBLE-ROW TYPES
LOWEST WT TO HP RATIO OF ALL
PISTON ENGINES
• MULTIPLE-ROW USED FROM WW II
UNTIL TURBINE ENGINES

7. LIGHT AIRPLANES AND
HELICOPTERS
• OPPOSED, FLAT, OR “O-TYPE” ENGINES
ARE MOST POPULAR
HP RANGES FROM LESS THAN 100
HP TO MORE THAN 400
OPPOSED-TYPE ENGINES HAVE THEIR
CYLINDERS MOUNTED HORIZONTALLY

8. ENGINE DESIGN AND
CLASSIFICATION
• CLASSIFICATION BASED ON VARIOUS
CHARACTERISTICS:
CYLINDER ARRANGEMENT
COOLING METHOD
STROKES PER CYCLE
• CLASSIFICATION MAY INCLUDE SOME
OBSOLETE TYPES

9. ENGINE CLASSIFICATION ACCORDING
TO CYLINDER ARRANGEMENT

10. DEVELOPED BY JD GEBHARDT
2000
CURRENT CLASSIFICATION
• CLASSIFIED BY CYLINDER
ARRANGEMENT AND DISPLACEMENT
LETTERS TO DESIGNATE TYPE AND
CHARACTERISTIC
NUMBERS INDICATE DISPLACEMENT

11. PROGRESS IN DESIGN
• THEORY OF DIMISHING RETURN:
RECIPROCATING ENGINES
LOSE EFFICIENCY IF THEY
WERE TO GET MUCH BIGGER
LIGHT AIRCRAFT HAVE BENEFITTED FROM
ADVANCES IN TECHNOLOGY SINCE WW II

12. JET PROPULSION
• FIRST JET-POWERED FLIGHT IN GERMANY
IN 1939
• SIR FRANK WHITTLE - GREAT BRITAIN/USA

13. CONCEPTS AND DESIGNS
• NEW DESIGNS INCLUDE BOTH TURBINE
AND RECIPROCATING ENGINES
• VOYAGER ENGINE
• PORSCHE PFM 3200
• AIRCRAFT ROTARY ENGINES
• TURBINE POWER
• PROP-FAN

14. REVIEW
• ADVANTAGES AND
DISADVANTAGES
OF DIFFERENT
TYPES
• DEVELOPMENT
SINCE WRIGHT BROS
• ENGINE CLASSIFICATION
• CURRENT ENGINE DEVELOPMENT