1906-1912 Vertical-4 Engine

nitially designed in 1906, the Wrights used these 240 cu in motors on most airplanes through 1912. Delivering 30-40 hp, these engines had a gear-driven high-tension magneto-distributor-spark plug ignition system still common in piston airplane engines. The operator adjusted the spark timing with a hand-lever on the magneto, later with foot pedal. Each of cast-iron vertical cylinders bolted onto the aluminum crank case. They had water pumps and radiators, but still cooled only half the cylinders' area. Like the 1904-1905 motors, the fuel pump delivered directly to the intake manifold and had no throttle. The pilot opened a compression release to aid starting and to shut off the motor in flight, allowing the propellers to free-wheel.

This was the only motor the Wrights licensed production of to other companies. Although their competitors had more powerful motors, the Wrights' aircraft had more efficient propellers and more reliable motors. Carillon Park in Dayton, OH. displays one of these motors.

References:

McFarland, 1953, p 1215-1216, plates 227-228.
Hobbs, 1971, pp 34-46.
Lippincott, 1987, pp 87-89.
McFarland, Marvin W. (ed) The papers of Wilbur and Orville Wright. McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1953, p 1215-1216, plates 227-228.
Hobbs, Leonard S. The Wright Brothers' Engines and Their design. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1971, pp 34-46.
Lippincott, Harvey H. Propulsion System of the Wright Brothers. In Wolko, Howard S. (editor), The Wright Flyer, an Engineering Perspective. The Smithsonian Institution Press, 1987, pp 87-89.

[Submitted by Joe W. McDaniel]

Wright B engine cutaway.jpg (19675 bytes)

A vertical 4-cylinder Wright engine with its crankcase open. This engine was used on a Model B.

Wilbur adjusts a 4-cylinder engine on a Wright Model A in France, 1908.

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