The Armstrong Siddeley Genet Major is a British five-cylinder (later seven-cylinder), air-cooled, radial engine for aircraft, designed and built by Armstrong Siddeley and first run in 1928. It developed 140 horsepower (104 kW). In Royal Air Force use the seven-cylinder version was known as the Civet I. The Feliform names used are in line with company convention, the Genet and Civet[1] both being large cat-like carnivores.
| Genet Major/Civet | |
|---|---|
| |
| Genet Major installed in a Southern Martlet at the Shuttleworth Collection | |
| Type | Radial aero engine |
| Manufacturer | Armstrong Siddeley |
| First run | 1928 |
| Developed from | Armstrong Siddeley Genet |
Variants and applications edit
Genet Major I edit
The Genet Major 1 was a five-cylinder engine of 105 horsepower (78 kW) that was closely related to the Genet I but with increased bore and stroke.
- Avro Avian
- Avro 619
- Avro 624
- Avro 638 Club Cadet
- Cierva C.19 Autogiro
- Civilian Coupé
- Saro Cutty Sark
- Southern Martlet
- Westland IV
Genet Major 1A (Civet I) edit
The Genet Major 1A (or Civet I in RAF service) was a seven-cylinder development of the Genet Major I, nominally rated at 145 horsepower (108 kW).
- ANBO V (upgrade)
- Avro Avian
- Avro Cadet
- Avro Rota
- Cierva C.30A Autogiro
- RWD-6 (not specified 7-cylinder Genet Major sub-type)
- Saro Cutty Sark
- SEA-1
- Westland Wessex
Genet Major III edit
As Genet Major IA but with cylinders using cast rocker boxes.
Genet Major IV edit
A geared propeller drive version of the Genet Major IA, 160 horsepower (120 kW).
Surviving engines edit
An Armstrong Siddeley Genet Major powers Southern Martlet (G-AAYX) which is owned and operated by the Shuttleworth Collection at Old Warden and flies at home air displays throughout the summer months.[2] An Armstrong Siddeley Genet Major 1A engine also powers the only surviving Civilian Aircraft Co.Ltd. 1931 vintage Civilian Coupe 02 monoplane (G-ABNT), which is airworthy and owned and operated by Shipping and Airlines Ltd based at Biggin Hill Airport, England.
Engines on display edit
- An Armstrong Siddeley Genet Major IA is on display at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford.[3]
- An Armstrong Siddeley Genet Major IV can be seen in Polish Aviation Museum in Kraków.[4]
- Aviation Heritage Museum (Western Australia)[5]
Specifications (Genet Major IA/Civet I) edit
Data from Lumsden[6]
General characteristics
- Type: 7-cylinder single-row radial piston engine
- Bore: 4.25 in (107.95 mm)
- Stroke: 4.5 in (114.3 mm)
- Displacement: 452.01 cu in (7.3 L)
- Length: 38.8 in (985.5 mm)
- Diameter: 38.15 in (970 mm)
- Dry weight: 327 lb (148 kg)
Components
- Valvetrain: Overhead poppet valves
- Fuel type: 77 Octane petrol
- Cooling system: Air-cooled
- Reduction gear: Direct drive, Left hand tractor
Performance
- Power output: 165 hp (123 kW) at 2,425 rpm at sea level
- Compression ratio: 5:1
- Power-to-weight ratio: 0.5 hp/lb
See also edit
Related development
Comparable engines
Related lists
References edit
Notes edit
- ^ Lumsden 2003, p.71.
- ^ The Shuttleworth Collection - Southern Martlet Archived 17 February 2018 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved: 21 November 2017
- ^ Royal Air Force Museum Cosford - Armstrong Siddeley Genet Major 1A 'Civet' www.rafmuseum.org.uk Retrieved: 1 January 2014
- ^ "Zbiory - silniki lotnicze". Muzeum Lotnictwa Polskiego (Polish Aviation Museum) (in Polish). Polish Aviation Museum.
- ^ Aviation Heritage Museum
- ^ Lumsden 2003, p.71
Bibliography edit
- Gunston, Bill (1986). World Encyclopedia of Aero Engines. Wellingborough: Patrick Stephens. p. 18.
- Lumsden, Alec. British Piston Engines and their Aircraft. Marlborough, Wiltshire: Airlife Publishing, 2003. ISBN 1-85310-294-6.