Kelly & Lewis v8 Engine (1915)
Kelly & Lewis engines were the products of Kelly & Lewis Ltd, a Melbourne based engineering company formed in 1899 through the partnership of Edward Lewis and George Kelly. Operating from Melbourne premises in Little Bourke Street the partners gained a reputation of excellence for their products.
Kelly and Lewis went on to design and build many petrol and diesel stationary engines and pumps for farm and industrial use.
WW1 production included the manufacture of three aircraft engines for the Australian Flying Corps's (AFC) B.E-2a aircraft at Central Flying School at Point Cook as a result of the February 16, 1915 announcement that the Department of Defence would proceed with the building of military aircraft in Australia, and that six Renault engines would be required. Orders for three of the engines were each placed with Tarrant Motors Pty Ltd and Kelly and Lewis Ltd both of Melbourne. The engines were patterned on the 70hp air cooled over head valve Renault V8. Tarrant's first engine was completed on August 28, 1915 and installed in one of the two B.E-2a aircraft based at Point Cook.
In 1915 Kelly and Lewis built their ordered three engines that were patterned on the 70hp Renault engines already installed in the two B.E-2a aircraft as delivered from the Royal Aircraft Factory in Britain to Point Cook in February 1914.
One of the three Kelly and Lewis engines built for the AFC was supplied to George McKenzie of Rainbow in Victoria in 1917 to power his own designed aircraft "Silver Wings" that he commenced to build in 1918 and completed in1921.
Although not being issued with a Certificate of Air Worthiness, the aircraft was flown and crashed in late 1921. Repairs were completed by 1926 and it was still being flown intermittently up to 1928. Some time later the engine was returned to Kelly and Lewis and very much later, donated to the Museum where it is on display, and is the only surviving example of the type, and is the third oldest surviving Australian built aircraft engine.
Kelly and Lewis went on to design and build many petrol and diesel stationary engines and pumps for farm and industrial use.
WW1 production included the manufacture of three aircraft engines for the Australian Flying Corps's (AFC) B.E-2a aircraft at Central Flying School at Point Cook as a result of the February 16, 1915 announcement that the Department of Defence would proceed with the building of military aircraft in Australia, and that six Renault engines would be required. Orders for three of the engines were each placed with Tarrant Motors Pty Ltd and Kelly and Lewis Ltd both of Melbourne. The engines were patterned on the 70hp air cooled over head valve Renault V8. Tarrant's first engine was completed on August 28, 1915 and installed in one of the two B.E-2a aircraft based at Point Cook.
In 1915 Kelly and Lewis built their ordered three engines that were patterned on the 70hp Renault engines already installed in the two B.E-2a aircraft as delivered from the Royal Aircraft Factory in Britain to Point Cook in February 1914.
One of the three Kelly and Lewis engines built for the AFC was supplied to George McKenzie of Rainbow in Victoria in 1917 to power his own designed aircraft "Silver Wings" that he commenced to build in 1918 and completed in1921.
Although not being issued with a Certificate of Air Worthiness, the aircraft was flown and crashed in late 1921. Repairs were completed by 1926 and it was still being flown intermittently up to 1928. Some time later the engine was returned to Kelly and Lewis and very much later, donated to the Museum where it is on display, and is the only surviving example of the type, and is the third oldest surviving Australian built aircraft engine.
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TECHNICAL DATA
Cylinders Bore and Stroke Length Width Height Dry weight Valve system Fuel system Power output Compression ratio Power to weight ratio |
Eight cylinders, upright air cooled V8 piston engine Bore - 3.78in (96mm) Stroke - 4.72in (120mm) 45.5in (1,156mm) 29.8in (757mm) 32.8in (838mm) 396lbs (180kg 1 x overhead exhaust valve, 1 x side inlet valve per cylinder Single carburettor 70hp @ 1,750rpm at take off 4.12/1 0.18hp/lb |