The Isotta Fraschini Zeta was an air cooledX engine with 24 cylinders developed by the Italian engineering company Isotta Fraschini in the 1940s. It was developed as an indigenous alternative to the imported Daimler-Benz DB 605 that was being built under licence as the Fiat RA.1050 R.C.58 Tifone. The engine was essentially two Gamma V12 engines on a single crankshaft, but proved troublesome to develop and never entered production.
During the 1930s, Isotta Fraschini had developed a line of air cooled inverted V12 aircraft engines including the 540 hp (403 kW) Gamma. These proved moderately successful at a time when most Italian aircraft engines were radials, including Isotta Fraschini’s own K.14.[1] In 1939, the Italian air ministry, looking for an appropriate power plant for their next generation of fighter aircraft, approached Germany to license the Daimler-Benz DB 605. An inverted V12 like the Isotta Fraschini designs, it differed in its liquid cooling but also in its capability, being over twice as powerful as the Italian engines. To compete with this, and other foreign designs like the Rolls-Royce Merlin, Isotta Fraschini developed the Zeta.[2]
Design and development
Design
The Zeta was, in essence, two Gamma R.C.15 V-12 engines coupled to a single crankshaft.[1] The engine consisted of an aluminium crankcase with four cylinder banks, each mounted at 90 degrees, with six cylinders. Each cylinder had a single intake and exhaust valve, driven by dual camshafts, and two spark plugs.[3] The whole engine was designed to be fitted as a replaceable power pack.
Development
Isotta Fraschini was owned by Caproni, who also produced aircraft, including the Caproni Vizzola F.4 which was originally planned to have an Isotta Fraschini V-12 engine but flew with a Daimler-Benz DB 601. The company also developed the Caproni Vizzola F.6 derived from this design, powered by the more powerful Daimler-Benz DB 605. On 7 October 1941, the design of a version of the F.6, named F.6Z, to be powered by the new Zeta was instigated, the first aircraft being ordered on 16 June 1942.[4] In October 1942, Reggiane, also owned by Caproni, was also tasked by the Air Ministry to develop a version of their Reggiane Re.2005 with the new engine. Seven examples of the proposed Reggiane Re.2004 were ordered.[5]
However, engine development was proving difficult; the first Zeta R.C.45 was run on 28 February 1941,rated at 1,200 hp (895 kW), but would only develop 1,085 hp (809 kW), as well as having many other issues.[3] Resolving these took time and when the more powerful Zeta RC24/60 was run in May 1943, it still failed its type test. Reggiane tested a mock-up in a wind tunnel and mounted it in the nose of a Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 but cooling problems continued to hold development back.[6] It was not until 14 August 1943 that the first engine took to the air in a Caproni Vizzola F.6Z, nearly two years after the Daimler-Benz-powered F.6M.[7]
Further development ceased following the armistice on 8 September 1943.[1] By this time, Reggiane was still waiting for their first engine. As a consequence, the company had already started developing their own engine, the 18 cylinder Reggiane Re 103.[8] The sole F.6Z remained the only aircraft flown with the Zeta.[9]
Variants
Zeta R.C.15/45
Project with two-speed supercharger, rated at 1,500 m (4,900 ft) and 4,500 m (14,800 ft).
Zeta R.C.21/60
Project with two-speed supercharger, rated at 2,100 m (6,900 ft) and 6,000 m (20,000 ft).
Zeta R.C.22/50
Project with two-speed supercharger, rated at 2,200 m (7,200 ft) and 5,000 m (16,000 ft).
Cernuschi, Enrico (2003). "Il motore impossibile". Storia Militare (in Italian). Parma: Ermanno Albertelli Editore (120): 36–43.
Green, William; Swanborough, Gordon (1994). The Complete Book of Fighters: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Every Fighter Aircraft Built and Flown. New York: Smithmark Publishers. ISBN0-8317-3939-8.
Gunston, Bill (2006). World Encyclopedia of Aero Engines. Stroud: Sutton Publishing. ISBN0-7509-4479-X.
Pearce, Willian (2017). "Isotta Fraschini Zeta X-24 Aircraft Engine". Old Machine Press. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
Thompson, Jonathan (1963). Italian Civil and Military Aircraft, 1930-1945. Los Angeles: Aero Publishers. ISBN1-2584-4296-5.
January 10, 2023
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The Isotta Fraschini Zeta was an air cooled X engine with 24 cylinders developed by the Italian engineering company Isotta Fraschini in the 1940s It was developed as an indigenous alternative to the imported Daimler Benz DB 605 that was being built under licence as the Fiat RA 1050 R C 58 Tifone The engine was essentially two Gamma V12 engines on a single crankshaft but proved troublesome to develop and never entered production ZetaIsotta Fraschini Zeta R C 25 60Type Air cooled X24 aircraft engineNational origin ItalyManufacturer Isotta FraschiniFirst run 1941Developed from Isotta Fraschini Gamma Contents 1 Background 2 Design and development 2 1 Design 2 2 Development 3 Variants 4 Applications 5 Specifications R C 35 5 1 General characteristics 5 2 Components 5 3 Performance 6 See also 7 References 7 1 Notes 7 2 BibliographyBackground EditDuring the 1930s Isotta Fraschini had developed a line of air cooled inverted V12 aircraft engines including the 540 hp 403 kW Gamma These proved moderately successful at a time when most Italian aircraft engines were radials including Isotta Fraschini s own K 14 1 In 1939 the Italian air ministry looking for an appropriate power plant for their next generation of fighter aircraft approached Germany to license the Daimler Benz DB 605 An inverted V12 like the Isotta Fraschini designs it differed in its liquid cooling but also in its capability being over twice as powerful as the Italian engines To compete with this and other foreign designs like the Rolls Royce Merlin Isotta Fraschini developed the Zeta 2 Design and development EditDesign Edit The Zeta was in essence two Gamma R C 15 V 12 engines coupled to a single crankshaft 1 The engine consisted of an aluminium crankcase with four cylinder banks each mounted at 90 degrees with six cylinders Each cylinder had a single intake and exhaust valve driven by dual camshafts and two spark plugs 3 The whole engine was designed to be fitted as a replaceable power pack Development Edit Isotta Fraschini was owned by Caproni who also produced aircraft including the Caproni Vizzola F 4 which was originally planned to have an Isotta Fraschini V 12 engine but flew with a Daimler Benz DB 601 The company also developed the Caproni Vizzola F 6 derived from this design powered by the more powerful Daimler Benz DB 605 On 7 October 1941 the design of a version of the F 6 named F 6Z to be powered by the new Zeta was instigated the first aircraft being ordered on 16 June 1942 4 In October 1942 Reggiane also owned by Caproni was also tasked by the Air Ministry to develop a version of their Reggiane Re 2005 with the new engine Seven examples of the proposed Reggiane Re 2004 were ordered 5 However engine development was proving difficult the first Zeta R C 45 was run on 28 February 1941 rated at 1 200 hp 895 kW but would only develop 1 085 hp 809 kW as well as having many other issues 3 Resolving these took time and when the more powerful Zeta RC24 60 was run in May 1943 it still failed its type test Reggiane tested a mock up in a wind tunnel and mounted it in the nose of a Savoia Marchetti SM 79 but cooling problems continued to hold development back 6 It was not until 14 August 1943 that the first engine took to the air in a Caproni Vizzola F 6Z nearly two years after the Daimler Benz powered F 6M 7 Further development ceased following the armistice on 8 September 1943 1 By this time Reggiane was still waiting for their first engine As a consequence the company had already started developing their own engine the 18 cylinder Reggiane Re 103 8 The sole F 6Z remained the only aircraft flown with the Zeta 9 Variants EditZeta R C 15 45 Project with two speed supercharger rated at 1 500 m 4 900 ft and 4 500 m 14 800 ft Zeta R C 21 60 Project with two speed supercharger rated at 2 100 m 6 900 ft and 6 000 m 20 000 ft Zeta R C 22 50 Project with two speed supercharger rated at 2 200 m 7 200 ft and 5 000 m 16 000 ft Zeta R C 24 60 1 250 hp 932 kW version with a two speed Wright supercharger rated at 2 400 m 7 900 ft and 6 000 m 20 000 ft for the Reggiane Re 2004 and Caproni Vizzola F 6Z Zeta R C 35 Initial design 1 150 hp 858 kW rated at 3 500 m 11 500 ft Zeta R C 40 Project rated at 4 000 m 13 000 ft Zeta R C 42 1 200 hp 895 kW project rated at 4 200 m 13 800 ft Zeta R C 45 Version for Caproni Vizzola F 6Z rated at 4 500 m 14 800 ft Zeta R C 50SD Project with Isotta Fraschini supercharger rated at 5 000 m 16 000 ft Applications EditAmbrosini SAI 403 unbuilt Zeta R C 21 60 Breda Ba 201 trial Caproni Ca 331 C N Raffica unbuilt Caproni Ca 350 unbuilt Zeta R C 42 Caproni Vizzola F 6Z Reggiane Re 2004 Savoia Marchetti SM 79 mock up only for development Specifications R C 35 EditData from 10 General characteristics Type 24 cylinder twelve row four bank air cooled X engine Bore 125 mm 4 9 in Stroke 130 mm 5 1 in Displacement 38 3 L 2 337 in3 Length 1 730 mm 68 in Width 1 000 mm 39 in Height 1 000 mm 39 in Dry weight 760 kg 1 680 lb Air starterComponents Valvetrain Two valves per cylinder with dual overhead camshafts Supercharger Single stage mechanical Fuel type Gasoline Cooling system Air cooledPerformance Power output 919 kW 1 232 hp at 2700 rpm Compression ratio 6 5 1See also EditComparable engines Armstrong Siddeley Deerhound Continental XH 2860 Napier Dagger Rolls Royce ExeRelated lists List of aircraft enginesReferences Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Isotta Fraschini Zeta Notes Edit a b c Gunston 2006 p 107 Ceruschi 2003 p 41 a b Pearce 2017 Brotzu Caso Cosolo 1971 p 29 Brotzu Caso Cosolo 1972 p 30 Alegi 2001 p 35 Brotzu Caso Cosolo 1971 p 30 Alegi 2001 p 34 Green and Swanborough p 110 Pearce William 5 June 2017 Isotta Fraschini Zeta X 24 Aircraft Engine Old Machine Press Retrieved 5 September 2018 Bibliography Edit Alegi Gregory 2001 Reggiane RE 2005 in Italian Turin La Bancarella Aeronautica Brotzu Emilio Caso Michele Cosolo Gherardo Cosolo 1971 Dimensioen Cielo Caccia Assalto in Italian Vol 2 Roma Edizioni Bizzarri Brotzu Emilio Caso Michele Cosolo Gherardo Cosolo 1972 Dimensioen Cielo Caccia Assalto in Italian Vol 3 Roma Edizioni Bizzarri Cernuschi Enrico 2003 Il motore impossibile Storia Militare in Italian Parma Ermanno Albertelli Editore 120 36 43 Green William Swanborough Gordon 1994 The Complete Book of Fighters An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Every Fighter Aircraft Built and Flown New York Smithmark Publishers ISBN 0 8317 3939 8 Gunston Bill 2006 World Encyclopedia of Aero Engines Stroud Sutton Publishing ISBN 0 7509 4479 X Pearce Willian 2017 Isotta Fraschini Zeta X 24 Aircraft Engine Old Machine Press Retrieved 4 September 2018 Thompson Jonathan 1963 Italian Civil and Military Aircraft 1930 1945 Los Angeles Aero Publishers ISBN 1 2584 4296 5 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Isotta Fraschini Zeta amp oldid 1126156264, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
