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de Havilland Gipsy Major

November 23, 2023

The de Havilland Gipsy Major or Gipsy IIIA is a four-cylinder, air-cooled, inverted inline engine used in a variety of light aircraft produced in the 1930s, including the famous Tiger Moth biplane. Many Gipsy Major engines still power vintage aircraft types.

Gipsy Major
Gipsy Major 31 engine on display at the de Havilland Aircraft Museum
Type Piston inline aero-engine
Manufacturer de Havilland Engine Company
First run 1932
Major applications de Havilland Tiger Moth
de Havilland Canada Chipmunk
Number built 14,615
Developed from de Havilland Gipsy
Developed into de Havilland Gipsy Six

Engines were produced by de Havilland in the UK and by the Australian arm of the company, de Havilland Australia, the latter modifying the design to use imperial measures rather than the original metric measurements.[citation needed]

Design and development edit

The engine was a slightly modified Gipsy III, which was effectively a de Havilland Gipsy engine modified to run inverted so that the cylinders pointed downwards below the crankcase. The Major was also bored-out (118 mm from 114 mm) compared to the Gipsy III, increasing displacement from 5 L to 6.1 L.

The inverted configuration allowed the propeller shaft to be kept in a high position without having the cylinders blocking the pilot's forward view over the nose of the aircraft.[1]

One initial disadvantage of the inverted configuration was the high oil consumption (up to four pints per hour) requiring regular refills of the external oil tank; this problem improved over time with the use of modified piston rings. First built in 1932, total production of all Gipsy Major versions was 14,615 units.

Further development edit

In 1934, when Geoffrey de Havilland needed a more powerful engine for his twin-engined transport aircraft, the four-cylinder Gipsy Major was further developed into the 200 hp six-cylinder Gipsy Six.[2] In 1937 even more power was needed for the new D.H.91 Albatross four-engined transatlantic mailplane, and so two Gipsy Six cylinder banks were combined to form one 525 hp (391 kW) Gipsy Twelve 12-cylinder inverted Vee.[3] In military service, the Gipsy Twelve became known as the Gipsy King and the Gipsy Six the Gipsy Queen.

The advent of World War II cut short all civilian flying and after the war de Havilland was too busy concentrating on jet engines to put much energy into its piston engines. The Gipsy did not go without a fight though. In Canada the Gipsy Major was the engine of choice for the DHC1 Chipmunk trainer, which replaced the Tiger Moth trainer in RAF service after the war. By then however, the Gipsy Major was eclipsed by the Blackburn Cirrus Major in Britain and the American Lycoming and Continental horizontally opposed engines abroad. (In a twist of irony, the Blackburn itself was based on Frank Halford’s old ADC Cirrus engine; Blackburn had bought the licence in 1934).

In its final supercharged form, the Gipsy Major used in helicopter applications delivered 220 hp (164 kW).[4]

By 1945 the Gipsy Major had been cleared for a world record 1,500 hours time between overhaul (TBO),[5] surpassing its previously held world record of 1,260 hours TBO achieved in 1943. 1,000 hours TBO had earlier been achieved in 1938.[6]

Variants edit

 
Supercharged Gipsy Major 50
Gipsy Major I
Gipsy Major IC
Higher compression ratio (6:1) and maximum RPM for racing use.
Gipsy Major ID
Fuel pump added, plus screened ignition harness and priming system.
Gipsy Major IF
Aluminium cylinder heads, 5.25:1 compression ratio.
Gipsy Major II
Variable pitch propeller
Gipsy Major 7
Military version of Gipsy Major 1D, increased climb RPM.
Gipsy Major 8
Sodium cooled exhaust valves, cartridge starter for DHC Chipmunk.
Gipsy Major 10
Electric starter option.
Gipsy Major 30
Major redesign, bore and stroke increased. 6.5:1 compression ratio.
Gipsy Major 50
Supercharged. 197 hp.
Gipsy Major 200
Designed as a light helicopter engine. 200 hp.
Gipsy Major 215
Turbo-supercharged helicopter engine. 220 hp.
Alfa Romeo 110
Alfa Romeo licence production/derivative
de Havilland L-375-1
US military designation for the Gipsy Major I
IAR 4-G1
IAR licence produced in Romania

Applications edit

 
Gipsy Major in the centre or nose position on a DHA-3 Drover

Application list from Lumsden unless otherwise noted.[7][8]

Surviving engines edit

Many Gipsy Major engines remain in service today worldwide, in the United Kingdom alone approximately 175 de Havilland Tiger Moths were noted on the Civil Aviation Authority register in September 2011 although not all of these aircraft were airworthy.[11]

Engines on display edit

Examples of the Gipsy Major are on display at the following museums:

Specifications (Gipsy Major I) edit

 
Gipsy Major on work stand

Data from Jane's.[12]

General characteristics

  • Type: 4-cylinder air-cooled inverted inline piston aircraft engine
  • Bore: 4.646 in (118 mm)
  • Stroke: 5.512 in (140 mm)
  • Displacement: 373.7 in³ (6.124 L)
  • Length: 48.3 in (1227 mm)
  • Width: 20.0 in (508 mm)
  • Height: 29.6 in (752 mm)
  • Dry weight: 300 lb (136 kg) Mk 1F to 322 lb (146 kg) Mk 1D

Components

  • Valvetrain: OHV
  • Fuel system: Downdraught Hobson A.I.48 H3M (Mk 1C and Mk 7) or H1M (others)
  • Oil system: Dry sump, gear-type pump
  • Cooling system: Air-cooled

Performance

  • Power output: 122 hp at 2,100 rpm (cruise), 145 hp (108 kW) at 2,550 rpm (1 minute max)
  • Specific power: 0.39 hp/in³ (17.6 kW/L)
  • Compression ratio: 5.25:1 (Mk 1 and 1F) or 6.0:1 (others)
  • Fuel consumption: 6.5 to 6.75 gph (28.4 to 30.7 L/h) at 2,100 rpm
  • Oil consumption: 1.75 pints (0.99 L) per hour.
  • Power-to-weight ratio: 0.48 hp/lb (0.78 kW/kg)

See also edit

 
Supercharged Gipsy Major in 1953 Stanton Special Cropduster race car
Problems playing this file? See media help.

Related development

Comparable engines

Related lists

References edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ Bransom 1991, p. 28.
  2. ^ Lumsden 2003, p. 142.
  3. ^ Lumsden 2003, p. 136.
  4. ^ Lumsden 2003, p. 141.
  5. ^ . flightglobal.com. Archived from the original on 27 August 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
  6. ^ . flightglobal.com. Archived from the original on 27 August 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
  7. ^ Lumsden 2003, pp.139-141
  8. ^ Note that the Gipsy Major may not be the main powerplant for these types
  9. ^ Wesselink 1982 p.84
  10. ^ Wesselink 1982 p.115
  11. ^ G-INFO, UK CAA database - DH.82 15 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved: 10 September 2011
  12. ^ Jane's 1989, p. 276-277

Bibliography edit

  • Bransom, Alan. The Tiger Moth Story, Fourth Edition. Shrewsbury, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd., 1991. ISBN 978-0-906393-19-2.
  • Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War II. London. Studio Editions Ltd, 1989. ISBN 978-0-517-67964-7
  • Lumsden, Alec. British Piston Engines and their Aircraft. Marlborough, Wiltshire: Airlife Publishing, 2003. ISBN 978-1-85310-294-3.
  • Ord-Hume, Arthur W.J.G. (2000). British Light Aeroplanes. Peterborough: GMS Enterprises. ISBN 978-1-870384-76-6.
  • Wesselink, Theo; Postma, Thijs (1982). De Nederlandse vliegtuigen. Haarlem: Romem. ISBN 90-228-3792-0.

External links edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to De Havilland Gipsy Major.
  • Royal Air Force Museum - Gipsy Major

November 23, 2023
havilland, gipsy, major, gipsy, iiia, four, cylinder, cooled, inverted, inline, engine, used, variety, light, aircraft, produced, 1930s, including, famous, tiger, moth, biplane, many, gipsy, major, engines, still, power, vintage, aircraft, types, gipsy, majorg. The de Havilland Gipsy Major or Gipsy IIIA is a four cylinder air cooled inverted inline engine used in a variety of light aircraft produced in the 1930s including the famous Tiger Moth biplane Many Gipsy Major engines still power vintage aircraft types Gipsy MajorGipsy Major 31 engine on display at the de Havilland Aircraft MuseumType Piston inline aero engineManufacturer de Havilland Engine CompanyFirst run 1932Major applications de Havilland Tiger Moth de Havilland Canada ChipmunkNumber built 14 615Developed from de Havilland GipsyDeveloped into de Havilland Gipsy SixEngines were produced by de Havilland in the UK and by the Australian arm of the company de Havilland Australia the latter modifying the design to use imperial measures rather than the original metric measurements citation needed Contents 1 Design and development 1 1 Further development 2 Variants 3 Applications 4 Surviving engines 5 Engines on display 6 Specifications Gipsy Major I 6 1 General characteristics 6 2 Components 6 3 Performance 7 See also 8 References 8 1 Notes 8 2 Bibliography 9 External linksDesign and development editThe engine was a slightly modified Gipsy III which was effectively a de Havilland Gipsy engine modified to run inverted so that the cylinders pointed downwards below the crankcase The Major was also bored out 118 mm from 114 mm compared to the Gipsy III increasing displacement from 5 L to 6 1 L The inverted configuration allowed the propeller shaft to be kept in a high position without having the cylinders blocking the pilot s forward view over the nose of the aircraft 1 One initial disadvantage of the inverted configuration was the high oil consumption up to four pints per hour requiring regular refills of the external oil tank this problem improved over time with the use of modified piston rings First built in 1932 total production of all Gipsy Major versions was 14 615 units Further development edit In 1934 when Geoffrey de Havilland needed a more powerful engine for his twin engined transport aircraft the four cylinder Gipsy Major was further developed into the 200 hp six cylinder Gipsy Six 2 In 1937 even more power was needed for the new D H 91 Albatross four engined transatlantic mailplane and so two Gipsy Six cylinder banks were combined to form one 525 hp 391 kW Gipsy Twelve 12 cylinder inverted Vee 3 In military service the Gipsy Twelve became known as the Gipsy King and the Gipsy Six the Gipsy Queen The advent of World War II cut short all civilian flying and after the war de Havilland was too busy concentrating on jet engines to put much energy into its piston engines The Gipsy did not go without a fight though In Canada the Gipsy Major was the engine of choice for the DHC1 Chipmunk trainer which replaced the Tiger Moth trainer in RAF service after the war By then however the Gipsy Major was eclipsed by the Blackburn Cirrus Major in Britain and the American Lycoming and Continental horizontally opposed engines abroad In a twist of irony the Blackburn itself was based on Frank Halford s old ADC Cirrus engine Blackburn had bought the licence in 1934 In its final supercharged form the Gipsy Major used in helicopter applications delivered 220 hp 164 kW 4 By 1945 the Gipsy Major had been cleared for a world record 1 500 hours time between overhaul TBO 5 surpassing its previously held world record of 1 260 hours TBO achieved in 1943 1 000 hours TBO had earlier been achieved in 1938 6 Variants edit nbsp Supercharged Gipsy Major 50Gipsy Major I Gipsy Major IC Higher compression ratio 6 1 and maximum RPM for racing use Gipsy Major ID Fuel pump added plus screened ignition harness and priming system Gipsy Major IF Aluminium cylinder heads 5 25 1 compression ratio Gipsy Major II Variable pitch propeller Gipsy Major 7 Military version of Gipsy Major 1D increased climb RPM Gipsy Major 8 Sodium cooled exhaust valves cartridge starter for DHC Chipmunk Gipsy Major 10 Electric starter option Gipsy Major 30 Major redesign bore and stroke increased 6 5 1 compression ratio Gipsy Major 50 Supercharged 197 hp Gipsy Major 200 Designed as a light helicopter engine 200 hp Gipsy Major 215 Turbo supercharged helicopter engine 220 hp Alfa Romeo 110 Alfa Romeo licence production derivative de Havilland L 375 1 US military designation for the Gipsy Major I IAR 4 G1 IAR licence produced in RomaniaApplications edit nbsp Gipsy Major in the centre or nose position on a DHA 3 DroverApplication list from Lumsden unless otherwise noted 7 8 Airspeed Ferry AISA I 115 Arrow Active Auster Aiglet Auster Autocar Auster Autocrat Beagle Terrier Boulton Paul P 92 British Aircraft Cupid British Aircraft Eagle British Aircraft Double Eagle Blackburn B 2 Chrislea Super Ace Comper Mouse Comper Streak Comper Swift De Bruyne Snark de Havilland Dragon de Havilland Dragonfly de Havilland Australia DHA 3 Drover DHC 1 Chipmunk de Havilland Fox Moth de Havilland Hornet Moth de Havilland Leopard Moth de Havilland Moth Major de Havilland Puss Moth de Havilland Tiger Moth de Havilland T K 2 de Havilland T K 4 Elliotts Newbury Eon Fairey Primer Foster Wikner Wicko General Aircraft Cygnet Major General Aircraft Monospar Handley Page Manx Hirtenberg HS 9 Ikarus Aero 2 KOD 1 Koolhoven F K 43 Koolhoven FK 47 9 Koolhoven F K 54 10 Koolhoven F K 49 Miles Aerovan Miles Falcon Major Miles Gemini Miles Hobby Miles Hawk Trainer Miles M 35 Libellula Miles M 39B Libellula Miles Magister Miles Mercury Miles Messenger Miles Minor Miles Monarch Miles Sparrowhawk Miles Whitney Straight Percival Gull Major Reid and Sigrist Desford Rogozarski SIM X RWD 5bis RWD 19 Saab 91 Safir SAI KZ IV Saunders Roe Skeeter Spartan Cruiser Stampe SV 4 Thruxton Jackaroo VL ViimaSurviving engines editMany Gipsy Major engines remain in service today worldwide in the United Kingdom alone approximately 175 de Havilland Tiger Moths were noted on the Civil Aviation Authority register in September 2011 although not all of these aircraft were airworthy 11 Engines on display editExamples of the Gipsy Major are on display at the following museums de Havilland Aircraft Museum Fleet Air Arm Museum Shuttleworth Collection Royal Air Force Museum CosfordSpecifications Gipsy Major I edit nbsp Gipsy Major on work standData from Jane s 12 General characteristics Type 4 cylinder air cooled inverted inline piston aircraft engine Bore 4 646 in 118 mm Stroke 5 512 in 140 mm Displacement 373 7 in 6 124 L Length 48 3 in 1227 mm Width 20 0 in 508 mm Height 29 6 in 752 mm Dry weight 300 lb 136 kg Mk 1F to 322 lb 146 kg Mk 1DComponents Valvetrain OHV Fuel system Downdraught Hobson A I 48 H3M Mk 1C and Mk 7 or H1M others Oil system Dry sump gear type pump Cooling system Air cooledPerformance Power output 122 hp at 2 100 rpm cruise 145 hp 108 kW at 2 550 rpm 1 minute max Specific power 0 39 hp in 17 6 kW L Compression ratio 5 25 1 Mk 1 and 1F or 6 0 1 others Fuel consumption 6 5 to 6 75 gph 28 4 to 30 7 L h at 2 100 rpm Oil consumption 1 75 pints 0 99 L per hour Power to weight ratio 0 48 hp lb 0 78 kW kg See also edit nbsp Supercharged Gipsy Major in 1953 Stanton Special Cropduster race car source source Problems playing this file See media help de Havilland Aircraft Museum Frank HalfordRelated development de Havilland GipsyComparable engines Alfa Romeo 110 Argus As 8 Blackburn Cirrus Major Elizalde Tigre IV Hirth HM 504 Menasco Pirate Walter Major 4Related lists List of aircraft enginesReferences editNotes edit Bransom 1991 p 28 Lumsden 2003 p 142 Lumsden 2003 p 136 Lumsden 2003 p 141 Flight 7 June 1945 p 611 flightglobal com Archived from the original on 27 August 2016 Retrieved 17 September 2021 Flight 14 January 1943 p 44 flightglobal com Archived from the original on 27 August 2016 Retrieved 17 September 2021 Lumsden 2003 pp 139 141 Note that the Gipsy Major may not be the main powerplant for these types Wesselink 1982 p 84 Wesselink 1982 p 115 G INFO UK CAA database DH 82 Archived 15 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 10 September 2011 Jane s 1989 p 276 277 Bibliography edit Bransom Alan The Tiger Moth Story Fourth Edition Shrewsbury UK Airlife Publishing Ltd 1991 ISBN 978 0 906393 19 2 Jane s Fighting Aircraft of World War II London Studio Editions Ltd 1989 ISBN 978 0 517 67964 7 Lumsden Alec British Piston Engines and their Aircraft Marlborough Wiltshire Airlife Publishing 2003 ISBN 978 1 85310 294 3 Ord Hume Arthur W J G 2000 British Light Aeroplanes Peterborough GMS Enterprises ISBN 978 1 870384 76 6 Wesselink Theo Postma Thijs 1982 De Nederlandse vliegtuigen Haarlem Romem ISBN 90 228 3792 0 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to De Havilland Gipsy Major Royal Air Force Museum Gipsy Major Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title De Havilland Gipsy Major amp oldid 1161056180, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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