Fokker D.VII with Liberty L-6 engine fitted for trials
The Liberty L-6, which developed 200–215 hp, was built by the Thomas-Morse Aircraft Corp. and Wright Aeronautical Corp. Since it was based on the same engine design as the more successful Liberty L-12V-12 liquid-cooled aviation engine, the L-6's resemblance to the Mercedes D.III German aviation engine, the source for the Liberty V-12's own cylinder and valvetrain design, resulted in the American L-6 engine design bearing a close visual resemblance to the German straight-six aviation powerplant in a number of respects, with at least one L-6 even being mounted postwar into a captured Fokker D.VII fighter for testing in the US. The Liberty L-6's smaller displacement of some 825 cu. in. (13.5 liters) versus the late-war German Mercedes D.IIIaü's 903 cubic inches (14.8 liters) do not seem to have handicapped the American straight-six design, however, as the "Liberty Six" possessed a 5.42:1 CR, while the D.IIIaü had only a 4.64:1 CR, explaining a good bit of the American powerplant's output level—in addition to the 735.5 watt level for German Pferdestärke metric horsepower, versus the then solely-American-based SAE organization's standard of almost 746 watts per one horsepower.
Since the L-6 was too large for mail airplanes and other engines were available, the L-6 was canceled after only 52 had been built. In 1920 10 more L-6 engines were ordered, designated L-825, several of which were installed in the Curtiss PN-1, (only two built), and the Engineering Division TW-1, (only six built).
Hall-Scott also produced a six-cylinder engine using Liberty L-12 components, as the Hall-Scott L-6.
Specifications
Rear view of restored Liberty Six engine
Data from U.S. Army Air Service Information Circular – Performance Test of Fokker D-VII with Liberty Six Engine
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Liberty L-6.
This article incorporates text from , a public domain work of the United States Government.
Gunston, Bill (1986). World Encyclopedia of Aero Engines. Wellingborough: Patrick Stephens. p. 106.
January 17, 2023
liberty, cylinder, water, cooled, inline, aircraft, engine, developed, united, states, during, world, aircraft, engine, display, national, museum, united, states, forcetype, piston, aero, enginenational, origin, united, statesmanufacturer, wright, aeronautical. The Liberty L 6 was a six cylinder water cooled inline aircraft engine developed in the United States during World War I Liberty L 6Liberty L 6 aircraft engine on display at the National Museum of the United States Air ForceType Piston aero engineNational origin United StatesManufacturer Wright Aeronautical Thomas Morse AircraftDesigner Jesse G Vincent and Elbert J HallFirst run about 1917Major applications Engineering Division TW 1Number built 52Variants Liberty L 4 Liberty L 8 Liberty L 12 Contents 1 Design and development 2 Specifications 2 1 General characteristics 2 2 Components 2 3 Performance 3 See also 4 ReferencesDesign and development Edit Fokker D VII with Liberty L 6 engine fitted for trials The Liberty L 6 which developed 200 215 hp was built by the Thomas Morse Aircraft Corp and Wright Aeronautical Corp Since it was based on the same engine design as the more successful Liberty L 12 V 12 liquid cooled aviation engine the L 6 s resemblance to the Mercedes D III German aviation engine the source for the Liberty V 12 s own cylinder and valvetrain design resulted in the American L 6 engine design bearing a close visual resemblance to the German straight six aviation powerplant in a number of respects with at least one L 6 even being mounted postwar into a captured Fokker D VII fighter for testing in the US The Liberty L 6 s smaller displacement of some 825 cu in 13 5 liters versus the late war German Mercedes D IIIau s 903 cubic inches 14 8 liters do not seem to have handicapped the American straight six design however as the Liberty Six possessed a 5 42 1 CR while the D IIIau had only a 4 64 1 CR explaining a good bit of the American powerplant s output level in addition to the 735 5 watt level for German Pferdestarke metric horsepower versus the then solely American based SAE organization s standard of almost 746 watts per one horsepower Since the L 6 was too large for mail airplanes and other engines were available the L 6 was canceled after only 52 had been built In 1920 10 more L 6 engines were ordered designated L 825 several of which were installed in the Curtiss PN 1 only two built and the Engineering Division TW 1 only six built Hall Scott also produced a six cylinder engine using Liberty L 12 components as the Hall Scott L 6 Specifications Edit Rear view of restored Liberty Six engine Data from U S Army Air Service Information Circular Performance Test of Fokker D VII with Liberty Six Engine General characteristics Type Six cylinder inline piston engine Bore 5 00 in 127 mm Stroke 7 00 in 177 8 mm Displacement 824 67 in 13 51 litres Dry weight 567 5 lb 257 4 kg Components Valvetrain SOHC Single overhead cam Fuel system Twin updraft Stromberg N A S5 carburetors Cooling system Water cooledPerformance Power output 215 hp 162 6 kW 1 700 rpm Compression ratio 5 42 1 Fuel consumption 0 49 lb HP hour Oil consumption 0 0256 lb HP hourSee also EditComparable engines Austro Daimler 6 BMW III Hiero 6 Mercedes D III SPA 6ARelated lists List of aircraft enginesReferences Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Liberty L 6 This article incorporates text from Liberty L 6 a public domain work of the United States Government Gunston Bill 1986 World Encyclopedia of Aero Engines Wellingborough Patrick Stephens p 106 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Liberty L 6 amp oldid 1058717619, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
