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<!-- This article is a part of [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft]]. Please see [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft/page content]] for recommended layout. -->
#REDIRECT [[Hyper engine#Other examples]]
{|{{Infobox Aircraft Begin
| name=Lycoming O-1230
| image=
| caption=
}}{{Infobox Aircraft Engine
|type=
|manufacturer=[[Lycoming Engines]]
|designer=
|national origin=USA
|first run=
|major applications=
|produced=
|number built=
|program cost=
|unit cost=
|developed from=
|variants with their own articles=
}}
|}
In 1932, the engineers at [[Lycoming Engines]] became aware that the [[United States Army Air Corps]] (USAAC) wanted a high performance engine that could produce at least 1 hp/in3 (46 kW/L) of engine displacement, and that a contract was underway with [[Continental Motors, Inc.]], their main rival in the general aviation engine market.<ref name="White">White p 379</ref> Lycoming's management wanted to be considered in the development the next generation engine, but no USAAC development contract was signed. Still determined to become known as a high performance engine manufacturer, Lycoming began an experimental, high-performance engine of their own. After spending US $500,000, and after many attempts to develop a successful engine, they finally came close to the USAAC specifications with the 1,200 hp (895 kW) O-1230 engine.

==Design and development==
Lycoming's O-1230 engine design was a 12-cylinder liquid-cooled opposed-piston low-profile engine that could be mounted either horizontally, buried in the wing of a multi-engine aircraft; or vertically, in the fuselage of a single engine fighter. The engine design proceeded at a faster pace in 1935 once a number of Continental's engineers joined Lycoming, after becoming unhappy with the working conditions there.<ref name="White">White p 380</ref>
[[File:051118-F-1234P-017.jpg|thumb|right|Vultee XA-19A with Lycoming O-1230 installed]]
In 1935, the USAAC became interested in the O-1230, and began supporting the engine development program. In 1936, the single-cylinder development tests exceeded expectations, passing its 50 hour test requirement. The full-size engine was ready for testing in 1937, and was rated at 1,000 hp.

The last YA-19 on the Air Corps order was delivered as [[Vultee A-19|Vultee XA-19A]] with a twelve-cylinder Lycoming O-1230-1 liquid-cooled engined offering 1200 hp. It had an enlarged vertical fin to balance out the longer engine. It first flew on May 22, 1940. This aircraft was subsequently re-engined with a Pratt & Whitney R-1830-51 and redesignated XA-19C.

Continued development of the 12-cylinder engine reached its peak when the engine was rated at over 1200 hp. It was as powerful as the [[Allison V-1710]], but with a narrower cowling than Allison's Vee design engine. Unfortunately, the O-1230 was not well received by the aircraft manufacturers, because it was not very reliable at that power setting.<ref name="White">White p 380</ref>

==H-2470==
It was apparent that the O-1230 engine needed a lot more power to be competitive with the high performance air-cooled engines that were then becoming available. Fortunately, the US Navy began funding the development of the Lycoming engine.<ref name="Balzer">Balzer p 24</ref> The funding enabled Lycoming's engineers to attempt rescuing the design by proposing a 24-cylinder H-configuration engine made by stacking two of the O-1230 engines, gearing them together to one common output shaft. The new engine was the H-2470. It weighed in at 2430 pounds and produced 2,300 hp (1,700 kW) at 3300 rpm.<ref name="White">White p 380</ref>

==Operational history==

The Navy specified the H-2470 for the [[Curtiss XF14C|Curtiss XF14C-1]] experimental fighter.<ref name="White">White p 380</ref> After some rigorous testing, the engine's poor performance led to the substitution of a Wright R-3350 radial engine, which was also having technical problems, and was considered to be more reliable than the H-2470. The testing program was eventually terminated due to the poor performance of the aircraft.<ref name="White">White p 381</ref>

The USAAC was also interested in the H-2470, and installed and flew it in the [[Vultee XP-54]] pursuit plane. The P-54 was the only aircraft to actually use it for flight, but like the Navy's XF-14C, the XP-54 never went into production.<ref name="White">White p 380</ref>

==Variants==
*O-1230 Base 12-cylinder opposed engine, two six cylinder banks of individual liquid cooled cylinders
*H-2470 Two O-1230 engines joined in H-configuration

==Applications==
*O-1230
**XA-19A
*H-2470
**XP-54
**XF14C
<!-- Survivors -->
<!-- Engines on display== -->

==Specifications (O-1230-1) ==
<!-- choose one to copy here -->

{{pistonspecs| <!-- If you do not understand how to use this template, please ask at [[Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Aircraft]] --> <!-- Please include units where appropriate (main comes first, alt in parentheses). If data are missing, leave the parameter blank (do not delete it). For additional lines, end your alt units with )</li> and start a new, fully-formatted line with <li> -->
|ref= White p 379
|type= 12-cylinder, Geared, liquid-cooled, horizontally-opposed piston engine
|bore= 5.25 in (133.4 mm)
|stroke= 4.75 in (120.7 mm)
|displacement= 1233.9 in³ (20.219 L)
|length=
|diameter=
|width=
|height=
|weight=1342 lb
|valvetrain=Overhead camshaft
|supercharger=
|turbocharger=
|fuelsystem=
|fueltype=
|oilsystem=
|coolingsystem=Liquid
|power=1000 hp@3100 rpm, 1200 hp@3400 rpm, 1,275 hp (951 kW)
|specpower=1.03 hp/in³
|compression=
|fuelcon=
|specfuelcon=
|oilcon=
|power/weight= .95 hp/lb
|designer=
|reduction_gear= 0.40
|general_other=
|components_other=separate cylinders
<li>hemispheric cylinder head design</li>
<li>one-piece cylinder head for each bank</li>
|performance_other=
}}

==References==
===Notes===
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
* White, Graham, ''Allied Aircraft Piston Engines of World War II'', SAE International, 1995
* Balzer, Gerald C., ''American Secret Pusher Fighters of World War II'', Specialty Press. 2008
* Wagner, Ray, ''American Combat Planes'', Third Enlarged Edition, Doubleday, 1982.
* Wegg, John, ''General Dynamics Aircraft and Their Predecessors'', Naval Institute Press, 1990.
<!-- ==External links== -->


{{Lycoming aeroengines}}
{{Aviation lists}}

<!--[[Category: ]] -->]

Revision as of 23:51, 20 July 2011

Lycoming O-1230
Typ
National origin USA
Manufacturer Lycoming Engines

In 1932, the engineers at Lycoming Engines became aware that the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) wanted a high performance engine that could produce at least 1 hp/in3 (46 kW/L) of engine displacement, and that a contract was underway with Continental Motors, Inc., their main rival in the general aviation engine market.[1] Lycoming's management wanted to be considered in the development the next generation engine, but no USAAC development contract was signed. Still determined to become known as a high performance engine manufacturer, Lycoming began an experimental, high-performance engine of their own. After spending US $500,000, and after many attempts to develop a successful engine, they finally came close to the USAAC specifications with the 1,200 hp (895 kW) O-1230 engine.

Design and development

Lycoming's O-1230 engine design was a 12-cylinder liquid-cooled opposed-piston low-profile engine that could be mounted either horizontally, buried in the wing of a multi-engine aircraft; or vertically, in the fuselage of a single engine fighter. The engine design proceeded at a faster pace in 1935 once a number of Continental's engineers joined Lycoming, after becoming unhappy with the working conditions there.[1]

Vultee XA-19A with Lycoming O-1230 installed

In 1935, the USAAC became interested in the O-1230, and began supporting the engine development program. In 1936, the single-cylinder development tests exceeded expectations, passing its 50 hour test requirement. The full-size engine was ready for testing in 1937, and was rated at 1,000 hp.

The last YA-19 on the Air Corps order was delivered as Vultee XA-19A with a twelve-cylinder Lycoming O-1230-1 liquid-cooled engined offering 1200 hp. It had an enlarged vertical fin to balance out the longer engine. It first flew on May 22, 1940. This aircraft was subsequently re-engined with a Pratt & Whitney R-1830-51 and redesignated XA-19C.

Continued development of the 12-cylinder engine reached its peak when the engine was rated at over 1200 hp. It was as powerful as the Allison V-1710, but with a narrower cowling than Allison's Vee design engine. Unfortunately, the O-1230 was not well received by the aircraft manufacturers, because it was not very reliable at that power setting.[1]

H-2470

It was apparent that the O-1230 engine needed a lot more power to be competitive with the high performance air-cooled engines that were then becoming available. Fortunately, the US Navy began funding the development of the Lycoming engine.[2] The funding enabled Lycoming's engineers to attempt rescuing the design by proposing a 24-cylinder H-configuration engine made by stacking two of the O-1230 engines, gearing them together to one common output shaft. The new engine was the H-2470. It weighed in at 2430 pounds and produced 2,300 hp (1,700 kW) at 3300 rpm.[1]

Operational history

The Navy specified the H-2470 for the Curtiss XF14C-1 experimental fighter.[1] After some rigorous testing, the engine's poor performance led to the substitution of a Wright R-3350 radial engine, which was also having technical problems, and was considered to be more reliable than the H-2470. The testing program was eventually terminated due to the poor performance of the aircraft.[1]

The USAAC was also interested in the H-2470, and installed and flew it in the Vultee XP-54 pursuit plane. The P-54 was the only aircraft to actually use it for flight, but like the Navy's XF-14C, the XP-54 never went into production.[1]

Variants

  • O-1230 Base 12-cylinder opposed engine, two six cylinder banks of individual liquid cooled cylinders
  • H-2470 Two O-1230 engines joined in H-configuration

Applications

  • O-1230
    • XA-19A
  • H-2470
    • XP-54
    • XF14C

Specifications (O-1230-1)

Data from White p 379

General characteristics

  • Type: 12-cylinder, Geared, liquid-cooled, horizontally-opposed piston engine
  • Bore: 5.25 in (133.4 mm)
  • Stroke: 4.75 in (120.7 mm)
  • Displacement: 1233.9 in³ (20.219 L)
  • Dry weight: 1342 lb

Components

  • hemispheric cylinder head design
  • one-piece cylinder head for each bank

    • Performance

    References

    Notes

    1. ^ a b c d e f g White p 379 Cite error: The named reference "White" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
    2. ^ Balzer p 24

    Bibliography

    • White, Graham, Allied Aircraft Piston Engines of World War II, SAE International, 1995
    • Balzer, Gerald C., American Secret Pusher Fighters of World War II, Specialty Press. 2008
    • Wagner, Ray, American Combat Planes, Third Enlarged Edition, Doubleday, 1982.
    • Wegg, John, General Dynamics Aircraft and Their Predecessors, Naval Institute Press, 1990.


    ]

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