Gnome Omega
| Industry | Aero engines |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1908 |
| Headquarters | France |
| Products | Aircraft engines |
The Gnome 7 Omega, also known as the Gnome 50 hp, is a seven-cylinder, air-cooled French aero engine manufactured by Gnome et Rhône. It was unveiled at the Paris Aero Salon in December 1908 and had its inaugural flight in 1909. Recognized as the first rotary engine mass-produced for aviation worldwide, it played a pivotal role in early flight development and powered a variety of aircraft. This engine generated from its displacement. An example of a Gnome Omega powers the 1912 Blackburn Monoplane, preserved by the Shuttleworth Collection, which is the oldest British-designed aircraft still flying. Additionally, a two-row, 14-cylinder model named the Gnome 14 Omega-Omega or Gnome 100 hp was developed. The original prototype Omega is on display at the National Air and Space Museum in the United States.
The design incorporates a single pushrod-actuated exhaust valve situated on the cylinder head, while the intake valve is embedded within the piston crown and opens due to inertia during the downstroke to allow intake charge from the crankcase. Notably, it does not include a throttle; instead, pilots regulate engine speed by intermittently cutting ignition.
Variants
- Gnome 7 Omega
- The initial single-row seven-cylinder model; .
- Gnome 14 Omega-Omega
- A double-row configuration with 14 cylinders utilizing Omega cylinders; .
Gnome 14 Omega-Omega
- Avro 501
- Blériot XIII
- Bleriot XXIII
- Bristol-Gordon England G.E.2
- Coventry Ordnance Works Biplane 10
- Deperdussin 1912 Racing Monoplane
- Nieuport IV.H floatplane
- Short S.41 Tractor Biplane
- Short S.57 Seaplane
- Short S.64 Folder Seaplane
- Short Admiralty Type 74
Engines on display
- Gnôme Omega No. 1, the very first Gnome rotary engine, is preserved at the National Air and Space Museum, Washington, D.C..
- A production example of the Gnome 7 Omega can be seen at the Royal Air Force Museum London.
- A restored Gnome Omega is exhibited at the New England Air Museum, Windsor Locks, Connecticut.
References
Further reading
- Moteurs d'Aviation Gnome (1910), Société Des Moteurs Gnome, Paris.