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                                     de havilland gipsy major engine

Picture
The de Havilland Gipsy Major is a four cylinder, air cooled, inverted inline engine designed and built by the de Havilland Engine Company in the 1930s, and by de Havilland (Australia) in the late 1930s and into the 1940s. It powered most of the entire DH Moth series and the DHC1 Chipmunk, and was the engine of choice with other Aircraft manufacturers products that included the Blackburn Bluebird, B2 and Saro Meteor, Comper Swift, Klemm KI 26, 27 and 32, Miles Hawk and most of the Auster series to name a few. Ninety years on, the engine powers these aircraft that are still operational  around the world.

Nine variants of the engine were produced featuring modifications and improvements in power output from the original 120hp of the Mk1, until its final variant was supercharged and produced 220hp and powered the Saro Skeeter helicopter.

Post WW2, the Gipsy Major had been eclipsed by the Blackburn Cirrus Major in Britain and Lycoming and Continental flat engines in the US. However by this time the Gipsy Major had reached a record Time Between Overhauls (TBO) of 1,500hrs, surpassing the previous records of 1,000hrs in 1938, and 1,260hrs in 1943. When production ceased, 14,615 units encompassing all variants had been built. 

TECHNICAL DATA - Gipsy Major Mk1
Type                                    Four cylinder air cooled inverted inline piston engine
Length                                48.3in (1,227mm)
Width                                  20.0in (508mm)
Height                                 29.6in (752mm)
Bore and Stroke                 Bore 6.646in (118mm)    and    Stroke 5.512in (140mm)
Dry weight                          300lbs (136kg)
Valve system                      1 inlet and 1 exhaust overhead valve per cylinder
Fuel System                        Claudel Hobson carburettor
Oil system                           Dry sump, pressure system and scavenged
Power output                     122hp @ 2,100rpm
Specific power                   0.39hp/cu in
Compression ratio             5.25/1
Power to weight ratio         0.48hp/lb
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  • Home
  • ABOUT
    • News
    • History
  • Community Engagement
    • Legends of The Skies
  • Birthdays & Functions
  • Our Collection
    • CATEGORIES >
      • ENGINES
      • COMMONWEALTH AIRCRAFT CORPORATION
      • D.A.P / G.A.F.
      • R.A.A.F. / R.A.N. / ARMY
      • COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT
      • KIT AIRCRAFT
      • OTHER AIRCRAFT
      • GLIDERS
  • membership
  • ONLINE SHOP
  • Support the Museum
    • Donations
    • EMPLOYEE GIVING
    • Our Supporters
  • Getting There
  • Contact