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Aero Engines
In the early years of collecting, our focus was primarily
on vintage aero engines.
It was decided to try to collect pre-WWII aero engines
because they were generally, more affordable and took up less space. In
the 1960’s and 1970’s most major museums had an aversion to
building or displaying replica or reproduction aircraft. They prided themselves
in displaying original aircraft and artifacts, while replicas were considered
to be a “counterfeit” exhibit. As examples of older aircraft
gradually deteriorated or wore out, and were sent to landfills and scrap
yards, that policy gradually changed and museums realized that the only
way they would be able to show the public examples of some famous and
innovative aeronautical developments, would be to construct replicas and
reproductions that were built to the same specifications as the no-longer
available original planes.
We had always considered the fact that the key to restoring
or replicating many of these aircraft was to use original engines and
instruments, which could NOT be easily duplicated, and fabricate wood
or steel or aluminum airframe around them, that were built to original
specs. We are proud to say that there are several hundred flying replicas
and reproduction projects that we have been able to supply these essential
items to. For several decades, we would only sell or trade engines that
were surplus to our own collection.
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Click on any of the images below for a better view.
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Raceway Collection main display. |
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Raceway Collection main display. |
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This is a one-of-a kind engine was built by a young Ed Heath
who went on to establish one of the major U.S firms that sold aircraft
and supplies to Pioneer aviators, and supplied engines, kits and
parts to many early homebuilders. Famous for his Heath Parasols,
light racing aircraft and converted Heath-Henderson aero engines.
This engine was built to power his first exhibition aeroplane in
1909. It may now be seen at the Seattle Museum of Flight. |
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These two examples (see below) of the mass-produced 28 hp, two
cylinder, air-cooled Lawrance A-3 aero engines were produced to
power the early American training aircraft used by the U.S. Signal
Corp near the end of WWI in several designs of light aircraft trainers,
referred to as “Penguins” because most were designed
for familiarization with ground handling, rather than for flight.
As inexpensive WWI Surplus, they enjoyed some popularity among
private builders of light aircraft in the 1920’s. |
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This is a very rare, late 1920’s six cyl., air-cooled 70
hp radial engine. These more reliable light weight radials finally
used dual magneto ignition in the last few years of the company’s
existence. They had come a long way from the early 1911 six cyl,
engines that had used automatic intake valves, pulled open by the
intake suction of the piston.
Early Anzani engines powered numerous aeroplanes in the pre-WWI
Pioneer era. |
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Curtiss C-6. 160/180 hp; 450 lb. water cooled, similar in power
and design to the overhead cam Mercedes 160hp. This was a redesign
of the WWI Kirkham designed K-6, with aluminum cylinder jackets
cast in pairs; 4 valves per cyl. This engine was found scattered
all over the floor of a Pennsylvania barn floor, in the early 80’s,
when we went there to pick up a pre-war race car. Now at Seattle
Museum of Flight (SMOF). |
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Glenn L. Martin Motors of Baltimore MD, acquired this design
for Chevrolair Motors in Indianapolis Indiana in 1930. It was designed
for racing by the famous auto racer, designer, Louis Chevrolet.
The unusual twin-cam inverted 4 cyl. aircooled aero engine, with
cast magnesium crankcase was 120hp and 265 lbs. This very rare example
now at SMOF. |
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This 38 hp air racing engine was developed from the earlier Church
Henderson motorcycle engine conversions-along lines of the famous
Heath-Henderson from Chicago. It is believed that three of these
38 hp racing engines, which powered the Church Midwing and Tilbury
Flash racers in the early 1930’s, were built and this is the
only one known to survive. SMOF. |
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This 90 hp light aero engine of the late 1920’s and early
‘30s was used in a variety of popular British and U.S. civil
aircraft. This engine is now in a vintage race car in the U.K. |
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This lightweight 25.27 hp two-cycle, air-cooled aero engine was
built in St Louis Missouri in 1930 (SMOF). |
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The Globe-Dayton was built in Dayton, Ohio in 1930. Designed
around the Ford Model A automobile engine for easy parts availability
and service, the 50 hp 173 lb. air-cooled engine used Model A crankshaft,
rods and pistons, and 1928 Nash rocker arms. It could use a Ford
A carb or special aero carburetor. It is also know as the Dayton
Aero Four-In-Line. This is the only known example. (SMOF). |
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Throughout the late 1920s and early ‘30s, the Heath Co.,
founded by Pioneer Era exhibition pilot, Ed Heath in 1910, offered
a wide variety of aero engines, and conversion kits based on a modified
Henderson 4 cyl motorcycle engine. The Raceway Collection featured
11 different versions of these engines, from crudely converted motorcycle
engines, to those with dual-ignition and even inverted racing engines.
The rarest & most sought-after type is this B-4 Heath factory
production version, using Heath’s own designed cylinders and
the best of all the modification parts it offered. (SMOF) |
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This fascinating 8 cyl. Air-cooled, two-stroke, diesel rotary
engine, was designed, in secret in 1937. The KHD firm was the oldest
engine manufacturing firm, descending from the Otto firm. Built
in the old Oberursel factory, it featured a quick-change propeller-hub
with a knock-off spinner nut, like those used on race car wheels,
among many other innovative and unusual features. The successfully
tested design was set aside to concentrate on production of military
aircraft engines. A design that seems ideal for mass production
today, this engine was returned to Germany to an unidentified buyer
who acted through an agent. |
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This 1927 conversion of a WWI 9 cyl. 80hp LeRhone , from rotary
to radial configuration, was by The Quick Airmotor Co. of Wichita,
Kansas. Other conversions were also manufactured by Tips and Smith.
In the 1920s, surplus WWI obsolete rotary engines were available
for $25 each, new-in the crate. (*Now they are $25,000!)
This Conversion used a new aluminum intake housing, which moved
the intake pipes behind the original case for carbureted intake.
Since the cylinders were no longer spinning for cooling, crude air
baffles were welded to the original cyl heads. Although production
costs were minimal, the results were awful. There are only two or
thre of these examples known. (SMOF) |
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In 1931 the Cycloplane Co of Los Angles, California produced
the Cleone design to power its odd training aircraft, the Cycloplane.
This is serial # 009 and the only one known to survive. (SMOF). |
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Raceway engine warehouse. |
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The Gregoire “Gyp” was the first aero engine to be
inverted. (To give the long pre-WWI props more ground clearance,
and also to give the pilot a less obstructed view past the engine)
Introduced in 1909, This “Gyp” was displayed in a Bleriot
Militaire in the 1910 Paris Air Show. The “Gyp” also
achieved many famous “firsts” in England and Japan.
It employed an unusual thermo-siphon cooling system. A novel feature
were pushrods that traveled through sleeves in the exhaust pipes.
A very important engine in the first years of aviation. Now in New
Zealand.
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This 4 cyl. 85 hp inverted air-cooled German engine was developed
prior to WWII. Widely used in military courier aircraft, it is shown
on a large stand which facilitates overhaul, by rotating the engine.
(SMOF). |
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The 1915 and 1916 Sturtevants were produced in Marblehead, Massachussetts.
The water-cooled, geared engines with dual magneto ignition provided
a, then significant, 140 hp.
Used and tested in various U.S. and British WWI aircraft, they
are extremely rare today. This is almost certainly the only display
pair of the two 140 types. The earlier l-head version is virtually
identical to the Thomas Morse V8 aero engine. The later Model 5A
had aluminum cylinders cast in pars and overhead valves. The pair
are now at SMOF.
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In 1935, the E. Train Establishment of Courbevoie, France produced
a series of in-line, air-cooled aero engines in 2, 4, and 6 cyl.
Versions with interchangeable parts. This nearly 70 year old design
would be ideal for many light aircraft projects today. This Model
6T, 60 hp inverted engine, with dual carburetors, weighs only 141
lbs. While the total length is 36 inches, this amazingly streamlined
design is just barely wider than a small propeller. This is the
only one known. (SMOF). |
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