Armstrong Siddeley Genet Major

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

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Genet Major I

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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.

Genet Major 1A (Civet I)

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Armstrong Siddeley Civet
 
Armstrong Siddeley Genet Major IV on display at the Polish Aviation Museum

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).

Genet Major III

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As Genet Major IA but with cylinders using cast rocker boxes.

Genet Major IV

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A geared propeller drive version of the Genet Major IA, 160 horsepower (120 kW).

Surviving engines

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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

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Specifications (Genet Major IA/Civet I)

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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

Performance

See also

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Related development

Comparable engines

Related lists

References

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Notes

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  1. ^ Lumsden 2003, p.71.
  2. ^ The Shuttleworth Collection - Southern Martlet Archived 17 February 2018 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved: 21 November 2017
  3. ^ Royal Air Force Museum Cosford - Armstrong Siddeley Genet Major 1A 'Civet' www.rafmuseum.org.uk Retrieved: 1 January 2014
  4. ^ "Zbiory - silniki lotnicze". Muzeum Lotnictwa Polskiego (Polish Aviation Museum) (in Polish). Polish Aviation Museum.
  5. ^ Aviation Heritage Museum
  6. ^ Lumsden 2003, p.71

Bibliography

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  • 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.