Gnome-Rhône 18L
| Industry | Aerospace, Aircraft engines |
|---|---|
| Successor | SNECMA |
| Headquarters | France |
| Products | Aircraft engines, including the 18L radial engine |
The Gnome et Rhône 18L was a French air-cooled radial engine featuring 18 cylinders arranged in two rows. This design marked a notable advancement in terms of cylinder quantity, displacement, and power output compared to the manufacturer’s usual range of 7, 9, or 14-cylinder engines. Despite its technical progress, the 18L did not enter mass production due to insufficient market interest and Gnome et Rhône’s prioritization of their 14-cylinder engines, which rapidly approached similar performance levels. The 18L's architecture was further developed into the 18P model, equipped with a two-speed supercharger delivering 1650 cv at 2400 rpm, and the 18R variant incorporating a central bearing that produced 2150 cv at 2500 rpm; testing in 1946 demonstrated the 18R could reach up to 2400 cv at 2600 rpm. Eventually, SNECMA, the successor company to Gnome et Rhône, chose to manufacture the Bristol Hercules engine under license instead.
Further reading
- Gunston, Bill. World Encyclopaedia of Aero Engines. Stephens, 1987. Reprint. ISBN 9780850597172. p. 84.