Sunbeam Nubian
| Industry | Aircraft engines |
|---|---|
| Founder | Louis Coatalen |
| Products | Aircraft engines (e.g. Sunbeam Nubian, Sunbeam Afridi) |
The Sunbeam Nubian, also identified as the Sunbeam 155 hp, was a British eight-cylinder aircraft engine that first ran in 1916.
Design and development
Louis Coatalen, the lead designer at Sunbeam, created the V-8 Nubian in March 1916 to meet the Admiralty's requirement for higher-powered aero engines. Drawing on features from his prewar racing powerplants, it incorporated twin overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder. The engine had a bore of and a stroke of , resulting in a displacement of , and was rated at with a reduction gear ratio of 0.615:1.
Initially configured with a 60-degree V angle, the engine suffered from significant vibration problems, prompting a redesign to a 90-degree angle, which produced the Nubian II variant. Although intended to power the Supermarine AD Flying Boat, early reliability challenges led Supermarine to select the Hispano-Suiza V-8 instead.
Production of the Nubian II commenced in October 1917; nevertheless, it was soon overshadowed by more powerful rivals such as Hispano-Suiza’s V-8 engines and Sunbeam’s own Arab model. The only documented use was in the Saunders T.1 aircraft, although some of the 36 units built (out of 50 ordered) were probably supplied to the Imperial Russian Air Service.
While initial engineering difficulties limited its commercial success, the Nubian’s V-12 derivative—the Sunbeam Afridi—and related variants enjoyed better market acceptance.
Variants
- Sunbeam Nubian
- The initial V-8 model featured a 60-degree cylinder bank angle and delivered .
- Sunbeam Nubian II
- This version was redesigned with a 90-degree V configuration to address vibration issues but experienced delayed deployment and minimal adoption.
Applications
- Saunders T.1
- Blackburn GP – produced in both left- and right-handed configurations
Bibliography
- The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft, Aerospace Publishing, London
- Lumsden, Alec. British Piston Engines and their Aircraft, Airlife Publishing, 2003.
- Brew, Alec. Sunbeam Aero-engines, Airlife Publishing, 1998.
- Jackson, A.J. Blackburn Aircraft since 1909, Naval Institute Press, London