Sunbeam Mohawk
Encyclopedia
Sunbeam, Wolverhampton, England, started to build aircraft engines in 1912. Louis Coatalen
joined Sunbeam as chief engineer in 1909, having previously been Chief Engineer at the Humber
company works in Coventry. The company quickly became one of the UK's leading engine manufacturers and even designed an aircraft of its own. Sunbeam discontinued the production of aircraft engines after Coatalen left the company in the 1930s.
, who later became well known for his famous non-stop Atlantic flight with Arthur Brown. The test flights began in the middle of October 1913, and took place at Brooklands
. In December of that year, the aircraft began a long period of intensive flight tests, which ranged over most of southern England and continued until the outbreak of War in 1914.
carburettors, and two magneto
s.
seaplanes of the Royal Naval Air Service
. The Gurkha engine preserved at the Fleet Air Arm Museum
, Yeovilton, Somerset, England, is the only surviving Sunbeam side-valve engine in the world. It is installed in the Short 184, aircraft number 8359, that played a minor role in the Battle of Jutland
at the end of May 1916. The pilot on that occasion was Flight Lieutenant Frederick Rutland (who was ever after known as “Rutland of Jutland”),
Louis Coatalen
Louis Hervé Coatalen was a Breton automobile engineer.Coatalen was born in the Breton fishing town of Concarneau and went on to study engineering at the Ecole des Arts et Métiers at Cluny ....
joined Sunbeam as chief engineer in 1909, having previously been Chief Engineer at the Humber
Humber (car)
Humber is a dormant British automobile marque which could date its beginnings to Thomas Humber's bicycle company founded in 1868. Following their involvement in Humber through Hillman in 1928 the Rootes brothers acquired a controlling interest and joined the Humber board in 1932 making Humber part...
company works in Coventry. The company quickly became one of the UK's leading engine manufacturers and even designed an aircraft of its own. Sunbeam discontinued the production of aircraft engines after Coatalen left the company in the 1930s.
Crusader engine
In the autumn of 1912, Coatalen designed a V8 engine, which delivered 120 hp at 2500 rpm. It was called the Crusader and was announced in the British aviation press in March 1913. Aircraft manufacturers welcomed this, as no really suitable British engines were available at the time. The company procured a French Farman biplane in which to test the new engine, and also hired a full-time test pilot for the project. This was John AlcockJohn Alcock
John Alcock may refer to:*John Alcock , British Royal Air Force officer*John Alcock , English churchman*John Alcock , English organist and composer...
, who later became well known for his famous non-stop Atlantic flight with Arthur Brown. The test flights began in the middle of October 1913, and took place at Brooklands
Brooklands
Brooklands was a motor racing circuit and aerodrome built near Weybridge in Surrey, England. It opened in 1907, and was the world's first purpose-built motorsport venue, as well as one of Britain's first airfields...
. In December of that year, the aircraft began a long period of intensive flight tests, which ranged over most of southern England and continued until the outbreak of War in 1914.
Zulu engine
The Zulu was developed during 1915. It was identical to the Crusader, except that the bore was increased from 90 mm to 100 mm and the reduction gear ratio was changed, allowing the engine to develop 160 hp at 2000 rpm. The Zulu engine was used in some Coastal Airships.Mohawk engine
Coatalen's next engine was an enlarged Crusader and was called the Mohawk. The Mohawk was a V12, side-valve engine, and (like the Crusader) was initially built with an 80 mm bore, which was soon increased to 90 mm. With its initial bore it developed 200 hp, when enlarged to 90 mm, it developed 225 hp and became known as the Sunbeam 225. Short seaplanes using this engine were often called “225s” because of this. The engine had two poppet side valves per cylinder, was water-cooled, weighed 905 lb dry, had four Claudel-HobsonClaudel-Hobson
Claudel-Hobson was a series of British carburettors manufactured by the H. M. Hobson Components Ltd..First introduced in 1908, they were widely used in British car and aircraft engines in the early 20th Century...
carburettors, and two magneto
Magneto (electrical)
A magneto is an electrical generator that uses permanent magnets to produce alternating current.Magnetos adapted to produce pulses of high voltage are used in the ignition systems of some gasoline-powered internal combustion engines to provide power to the spark plugs...
s.
Gurkha engine
The Gurkha was developed as a replacement for the Mohawk and was of identical design, except that the bore was increased from 90 mm (3.5 in) to 100 mm (3.9 in) and the reduction gearing was reduced from 2:1 to 1.86:1. This allowed the engine to develop 240 hp at 2000 rpm. Production ended in October 1916, after 74 units had been supplied to power the Short Type 184Short Type 184
|-Manufacturers:Source: Barnes and James#Brush Electrical Engineering Co. Ltd. #Frederick Sage & Co. Ltd. #J. Samuel White #Mann, Egerton & Co. Ltd. #Phoenix Dynamo Manufacturing Company #Robey & Co. Ltd. #S E Saunders Limited...
seaplanes of the Royal Naval Air Service
Royal Naval Air Service
The Royal Naval Air Service or RNAS was the air arm of the Royal Navy until near the end of the First World War, when it merged with the British Army's Royal Flying Corps to form a new service , the Royal Air Force...
. The Gurkha engine preserved at the Fleet Air Arm Museum
Fleet Air Arm Museum
The Fleet Air Arm Museum is located north of Yeovil, and south of Bristol. It has an extensive collection of military and civilian aircraft, as well as models of Royal Navy ships, especially aircraft carriers. Some of the museum has interactive displays...
, Yeovilton, Somerset, England, is the only surviving Sunbeam side-valve engine in the world. It is installed in the Short 184, aircraft number 8359, that played a minor role in the Battle of Jutland
Battle of Jutland
The Battle of Jutland was a naval battle between the British Royal Navy's Grand Fleet and the Imperial German Navy's High Seas Fleet during the First World War. The battle was fought on 31 May and 1 June 1916 in the North Sea near Jutland, Denmark. It was the largest naval battle and the only...
at the end of May 1916. The pilot on that occasion was Flight Lieutenant Frederick Rutland (who was ever after known as “Rutland of Jutland”),