Hispano-Suiza 8
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace, Automotive |
| Founded | January 1, 1904 in Barcelona, Spain |
| Founder | Marc Birkigt |
| Headquarters | Barcelona , Spain |
Area served | Worldwide (including Spain, France, Britain, Italy, United States, Japan, Switzerland, Soviet Union) |
Key people | Marc Birkigt (chief engineer) |
| Products | Aero engines, Automobiles |
The Hispano-Suiza 8 is a water-cooled V8 SOHC aero engine launched by Hispano-Suiza in 1914, becoming the most extensively utilized liquid-cooled powerplant in Entente aircraft throughout World War I. The initial 8A variant delivered , while the larger displacement 8F achieved .
Manufactured under license in twenty-one facilities spanning Spain, France, Britain, Italy, and the United States, the Hispano-Suiza 8 powered a wide array of aircraft and served as a precursor to subsequent successful models such as the Hispano-Suiza 12Y and the Soviet Klimov V12 engines employed during World War II.
Origins
At the beginning of World War I, Hispano-Suiza, headquartered in Barcelona, transitioned from automobile production to military equipment manufacturing. Chief engineer Marc Birkigt repurposed his proven V8 automobile engine into an aviation-specific design known as the Hispano-Suiza 8A (HS-31), which first appeared in February 1915.
The 8A was characterized by eight cylinders arranged in a 90° V layout, an 11.76 litre displacement, and an output of 140 hp at 1,900 rpm. Its notable features included a robust steel crankshaft, aluminium monobloc cylinder blocks with integrated SOHC cylinder heads, and cast-inlet and exhaust passages. Valve seats were positioned atop steel liners screwed into the blocks. Camshafts were driven by a rotating bevel gear shaft housed within bulges on the valve covers. Aluminium parts were coated with vitreous enamel to minimize oil leakage. To enhance reliability, critical wear components and ignition systems were duplicated, incorporating dual spark plugs and magnetos.
Submitted to the French Ministry of War in February 1915, this engine successfully completed a standard 15-hour full-power test. Despite initial opposition from French manufacturers, it underwent—and passed—a rigorous 50-hour full-speed bench evaluation by July 1915. Its architecture provided greater potential for advancement compared to the rotary engines then prevalent.
Following these successful assessments, French authorities promptly commissioned production of the 8A and initiated development of a new single-seat fighter powered by it. The resulting Louis Béchereau-designed SPAD VII played a pivotal role in securing Allied air superiority during the war.
Production history
The Hispano-Suiza 8 was the highest-produced aero engine series throughout World War I, with a total of 49,893 units manufactured during hostilities. Production persisted at reduced levels into the 1920s. The majority of engines were produced under license across factories in France, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Italy, while smaller quantities were also assembled in Japan, Spain, Switzerland, and the Soviet Union.
France
During World War I, France manufactured 35,189 units of the Hispano-Suiza 8 engine. Fourteen French firms held production licenses, including Ariès, Brasier, Chenard-Walcker, De Dion-Bouton, Peugeot, and Voisin. Among these, Peugeot was the largest producer of the 200 hp (150 kW) Hispano-Suiza 8 variant, assembling 5,506 engines. This model shared numerous components with Peugeot's own Peugeot 8Aa, such as camshafts, piston rings, and certain bearings.
United States
In 1915, the Wright Company secured a licensing agreement directly with Hispano-Suiza in Barcelona after the French government declined their licensing request, instead offering the Peugeot 8Aa engine. Throughout World War I, Wright manufactured 8,976 Hispano-Suiza engines.
United Kingdom
Orders from Britain commenced in August 1915. Production was overseen by Wolseley Motors, which created modified variants known as the Viper. During World War I, the United Kingdom produced a total of 3,050 engines.
Italy
The Hispano-Suiza 8 was produced under license by Italian firms SCAT, Itala, and Nagliati. Italy's output during World War I amounted to 2,566 units, mostly installed in imported French SPAD S.VII and SPAD S.XIII aircraft.
Czechoslovakia
In 1922, Škoda obtained a license to manufacture the 300 hp version and continued production through the 1920s.
Japan
Mitsubishi acquired a production license from Hispano-Suiza in 1918.
Spain
During the First World War, La Hispano-Suiza in Barcelona assembled 112 Hispano-Suiza 8 engines.
Switzerland
In 1917, Sauer reverse-engineered a 150 hp Hispano-Suiza engine. Initially produced without authorization, Sauer later formalized a licensing agreement with Hispano-Suiza following World War I.
USSR
Between 1920 and 1922, the Soviet Union license-produced 36 units of the 220 hp Hispano-Suiza 8 model, designated as M-4 starting in 1921. Their engine lineup also included the RBVZ-6 (M-1), Rhône 9J (M-2), and Renault 12F (M-3). From 1925 to 1932, they manufactured 331 examples of the 300 hp variant labeled M-6.
Variants
Source: British Piston Engines and their Aircraft
Note: Hispano-Suiza company type designations were prefixed with HS-, or noted as Hispano-Suiza Type XX. Military nomenclature followed the pattern Hispano-Suiza (manufacturer) 8 (cylinders) A (series) b (variant) r (feature), for example Hispano-Suiza 8Abr.
- 8A (HS-31)
- , initial test and production models with limited deployment including early Nieuport 14 aircraft.
- 8Aa (HS-31)
- Rated at at 2000 rpm, production started in July 1915. Early issues with HS-8A models were resolved, establishing them as standard powerplants for SPAD VIIs and Curtiss JN-4H variants. Licensed manufacturing took place in France, Great Britain (Wolseley Adder), Italy (Nagliati, Itala/SCAT), and Russia. Approximately 6,000 units were produced.
- 8Ab (HS-34)
- Delivered at 2,100 rpm with an increased compression ratio from 4.7 to 5.3, replacing the earlier 8Aa on SPAD VIIs by early 1917.
- 8Ad
- Produced in 1929 with bore x stroke dimensions of , providing for take-off power.
- 8B (HS-35)
- , featuring a compression ratio of 5.3:1 and geared reduction at 0.75:1. The HS-36 was an armed variant of the 8B equipped with a Lewis gun firing through the propeller hub.
- 8B twin (HS-39)
- Comprised of two coupled 8B engines.
- 8Ba
- Offered at 2,300 rpm with a low compression ratio of 4.7:1 and spur gearing at a ratio of 0.585:1.
- 8Bb
- Powered at , compression ratio of 4.8:1 with a reduction gear ratio of 0.75:1. The reduction gear was notably fragile and prone to breakdowns. Output improved to by late 1917.
The 8B series powered early models such as the Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5a, SPAD S.XIII, front-line Sopwith Dolphin, among other Allied aircraft. It was distinguished by its clockwise propeller rotation via gear reduction.
- 8Bc
- , compression ratio at 5.3:1 with reduction gearing at 0.75:1.
- 8Bd
- , compression ratio of 5.3:1 and reduction gear ratio of 0.75:1.
- 8Bda
- 8Be
- , compression ratio maintained at 5.3:1 with reduction gear at ratio of 0.75:1.
- 8BeC (HS-38)
- Equipped with a SAMC Model 37 cannon firing through the propeller hub using a hollow drive shaft to avoid interference, delivering power at , running at 2,100 rpm with clockwise propeller rotation and an elevated intake manifold design. This variant was utilized on the SPAD S.XII.
- 8Ca/220
- Cannon-fitted version rated at , running at 2,100 rpm with a compression ratio of 5.3:1 (HS Type 38).
- 8Cb/180 and ;8Cc/220
- Cannon-equipped types producing respectively hp at different compression ratios and engine speeds (HS Type 44).
- Type 40 and Type 41
- Possibly related to earlier types though details remain unclear.
- 8F (HS-42)
- Delivered at , running at 2,100 rpm direct drive with increased displacement of . Designed for bombers and fighters like the Nieuport-Delage NiD 29 and Martinsyde Buzzard, this model omitted reduction gearing to improve reliability.
- 8Fa
- Similar specifications to the standard 8F model.
- 8Fb (HS Type 42)
- Provided hp direct drive power with a compression ratio of 5.3:1.
- 8Fd Special
- Developed specifically for the CAMS 38 Schneider Trophy racer producing hp output.
- 8Fe (HS-42VS) (1926)
- Featuring bore x stroke dimensions yielding hp for take-off performance.
- Wolseley W.4A Python I through Viper II and Adder variants represent British licensed productions delivering power ranging from to hp incorporating enhancements such as reinforced crankshafts and compression ratios up to 5.6
- 1.
- The Wright-Hisso series includes numerous licensed American-built versions ranging from to hp featuring configurations such as geared drives and integrated engine-mounted guns.
- Soviet M-series includes M-4 (220 hp) based on Hispano-Suiza's 8Bb design and M-6 (300 hp) derived from the Hispano-Suiza's 8Fb model.
- Mitsubishi-Hispano-Suiza produced a licensed copy of the Hispano-Suiza's powerful 300 hp 8Fb engine for use by the Imperial Japanese Army.
Applications
- Austin-Ball A.F.B.1 (prototype model)
- Avia BH-21 (introduced in 1925)
- Avia BH-22
- Bartel BM-5
- Bernard SIMB AB 10
- Blanchard Brd.1
- Caudron R.11 (8Bba variant)
- Caudron C.59
- Caudron C.61 (8Ac variant)
- Curtiss JN-4H Jenny (uncommon submodel)
- De Bruyère C 1
- Descamps 27 (8Fb variant)
- Dewoitine D.1 (8Fb variant)
- Farman F.121 Jabiru (8Ac variant)
- FBA Type H (8Aa variant)
- Felixstowe F.1
- Fokker D.IX
- Fokker D.X (8Fb variant)
- Fokker D.XII (8F) only initial design
- Fokker S.III
- Gourdou-Leseurre GL.21
- Hanriot HD.5
- Hanriot HD.15
- Hanriot HD.20
- Itoh Emi 29
- Letord Let.1 (8A variant)
- Letord Let.2 and Let.3 (8Ba variants)
- Letov Š-7 (8Fb variant)
- Letov Š-13 (8Fb variant)
- Letov Š-14 (8Fb variant)
- Levasseur PL.1 (8Ab variant)
- Martinsyde F.4 Buzzard (8Fb variant)
- Nieuport 14 (8A variant)
- Nieuport-Delage NiD 29 (8Fb variant)
- Nieuport-Delage NiD 38 (8Ab variant)
- Nieuport-Delage Sesquiplan (8Fb variant)
- Variants of the Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5, including S.E.5a models (8Aa, 8B, 8Ba, 8Bb, and later Wolseley Viper derivatives)
- Sopwith Dolphin (8B variant)
- Prototypes of the Sopwith B.1 (8Ba variants)
- SPAD S.VII (8A variant)
- SPAD S.XI (8Be variant)
- SPAD S.XII (8Cb variant)
- SPAD S.XIII (8Be variant)
- Post-war modified version of the Standard J-1
- Waco DSO (8a variant)
- Prototype of the Wibault 1
Wright-Hispano E
The following aircraft utilized the Wright-Hispano E engine:
- Boeing NB-2
- Boeing AT-3
- Consolidated PT-1
- Cox-Klemin TW-2
- Curtiss AT-4
- Dayton-Wright TW-3
- Huff-Daland TW-5
- Loening M-8
- Naval Aircraft Factory TS-3
- Travel Air 3000
- Vought VE-7
- Waco DSO
Mitsubishi "Hi"shiki
- 200 HP version (8B)
Models powered by this include:
- Yokosuka Ro-go Ko-gata
- Hanza-shiki suijō teisatsuki (Type Hansa Surveillance Floatplane)
- 300 HP version (8F)
This power rating was used in:
- Mitsubishi 1MF
- Mitsubishi 2MR
Comparative table
| Model | 8A | 8Aa | 8Ab | 8B | 8F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bore (mm) | 120 | 140 | |||
| Stroke (mm) | 130 | 150 | |||
| Displacement (l) | 11.76 | 18.47 | |||
| Compression ratio | 4.7 | 5.3 | |||
| Length (m) | 1.19 | 1.25 | 1.31 | 1.36 | 1.32 |
| Width (m) | 0.81 | 0.83 | 0.85 | 0.86 | 0.89 |
| Height (m) | 0.77 | 0.81 | 0.87 | 0.90 | 0.88 |
| Weight(kg) | 195 | 215 | 230 | 236 | 256 |
| Power output (hp) | 140 | 150 | 180 | 200/235 | 300 |
| at (rpm) | 1900 | 2000 | 2100 | 2300 | 2100 |
Engines on display
Several Hispano-Suiza engines are preserved in museums worldwide:
- The Hispano-Suiza 8Aa Type 34 from 1916 is exhibited at the Museo de Aeronáutica y Astronáutica in Madrid, Spain.
- A Hispano-Suiza 8Ab with serial number 11934 can be found at the Vaasa Automobile and Motor Museum in Finland.
Additionally, Wright-Hispano engines are showcased at:
- Aerospace Museum of California featuring the Wright-Hispano 8A
- National Museum of the U.S. Air Force displaying a Wright-Hispano 8A
References
- Janes Fighting Aircraft of World War I by Michael John Haddrick Taylor, Random House Group Ltd., 2001, page 289
Bibliography
- "Los motores V8 de aviación de La Hispano Suiza (1914–1918)" authored by Jacinto García Barbero, Asociación de Amigos del Museo Del Aire, Museo de Aeronáutica y Astronáutica, CECAF, spanning 219 pages
External links
- Curtiss JN-4H Jenny powered by Hispano-Suiza V8 at Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome
- Aviation History resource
- Pilot Friend overview of Aero Engines
- Hispano-Suiza 8Aa featured at Museo de Aeronáutica y Astronáutica [1]
- Moteurs d'Aviation License Hispano-Suiza, technical manual detailing models from 150 hp up to 220 hp