Piaggio Stella P.X
| Industry | Aerospace, Aircraft engines |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1925 |
| Founder | Rinaldo Piaggio |
| Headquarters | Italy |
Key people | Renzo Spolti (engineer) |
| Products | Aircraft radial engines (including Piaggio Stella P.X) |
The Piaggio P.X, also known as the Piaggio Stella P.X, was an Italian aircraft radial engine featuring nine cylinders, manufactured by Rinaldo Piaggio S.p.A. Drawing upon its licensed production of Gnome et Rhône engines, this powerplant was installed in several aircraft during World War II, notably the IMAM Ro.37bis and IMAM Ro.43, which were widely operated by the Regia Aeronautica and the Regia Marina, respectively.
Design and development
In 1925, Piaggio secured a license from Gnome et Rhône to produce engines based on the Bristol Jupiter design.[1] Leveraging this experience, Piaggio developed a series of related radial engines under the "Stella" designation, meaning star.[2] The engineering work was headed by Renzo Spolti.[3] Initially, these engines were identified by their cylinder count, with the nine-cylinder model debuting as the P.IX in 1933. As development continued, a sequential Roman numeral system was adopted, leading to the introduction of the P.X following the P.IX.[2]
The Stella P.X represented a nine-cylinder adaptation of the earlier P.VII.[4] It maintained the original Gnome-Rhône bore and stroke dimensions of 146 mm (5.7 in) and 165 mm (6.5 in), respectively, but delivered significantly greater power compared to the similar 9K.[3] Key construction features included a two-part aluminum-alloy crankcase, steel cylinder barrels, and aluminum-alloy cylinder heads. The engine utilized a Piaggio T2-80 updraught Carburetor for fuel delivery.[5] The standard R. model incorporated reduction gearing, while the R.C. variant was additionally equipped with a Supercharger.[2]
This engine powered various Italian aircraft throughout World War II.[6] Among its notable applications was the IMAM Ro.43, which demonstrated commendable performance during naval engagements such as the Battles of Cape Spartivento and Battle of Cape Matapan.[7]
Variants
- P.X R.
- Naturally aspirated with reduction gearing.
- P.X R.C.15
- Equipped with a supercharger and reduction gearing, rated for operation at 1,500 m (4,900 ft).
- P.X R.C.35
- Features supercharging and reduction gearing, designed to perform at 3,500 m (11,500 ft).
Applications
- IMAM Ro.37bis
- IMAM Ro.43
- IMAM Ro.44
- Savoia-Marchetti S.73
- Savoia-Marchetti S.74
- Savoia-Marchetti SM.81
Specifications (R.C.35)
See also
Citations
- ↑ Gunston 1986, p. 125.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Angle 1939, p. 584.
- ↑ Wilkinson 1945, p. 60.
- ↑ Wilkinson 1945, p. 302.
- ↑ Green 1967, p. 111.
- ↑ Sadkovich 1994, p. 98.
Bibliography
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