Isotta Fraschini Beta
{{Short description|1940s Italian aircraft piston engine}}
| {{Infobox aircraft begin
|name = Beta |image = SAI-Ambrosini Supersette S.2 MM558 (6530583951).jpg |caption = The Ambrosini SAI.7 }} {{Infobox aircraft engine |type = Piston aircraft engine |national origin = Italy |manufacturer = Isotta Fraschini |designer = |first run = |major applications = |status = |produced = |number built = |program cost = |unit cost = |developed from = Isotta Fraschini Gamma |variants with their own articles = |developed into = }} |
The Isotta Fraschini Beta was an air cooled aircraft engine produced by the Italian engineering company Isotta Fraschini in the 1940s. Isotta Fraschini derived the Beta inverted 6-cylinder in-line aircraft engine from the V-12 Gamma. The engine saw limited production for aircraft, including the Nardi FN.316 and Ambrosini SAI.7, but was generally unsatisfactory in service.
Design and development
Isotta Fraschini had developed V-12 Gamma aircraft engine, which gained some success, powering the Ambrosini SAI.107 lightweight fighter.{{Sfn|Thompson|1963|p=15}} The company took essentially half of the engine and created the Beta inverted 6-cylinder in-line aircraft engine. The Beta shared the larger engine's bore and stroke. The engine had a one-piece aluminium alloy crankcase with steel and aluminium cylinders, each with a single inlet and a single exhaust valve. It had a carburettor designed by Isotta Fraschini and a single speed supercharger.{{Sfn|Wilkinson|1945|p=297}}
The Beta was produced in small numbers and fitted to a number of Italian training aircraft, including the Nardi FN.316 used in limited quantities by the Regia Aeronautica, Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana and German Luftwaffe during World War II.{{Sfn|Arena|1996|p=325}} However, the engine was unsatisfactory in service, its failure leading to the cancellation of the IMAM Ro.63 STOL reconnaissance aircraft.{{cite magazine|title=Plane Facts: Italian Liaison STOL|magazine=Air Enthusiast|year=1972|volume=2|number=3|page=150}}
Variants
;Beta R.C.10 ISZ: {{convert|300|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} for take-off {{convert|270|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} at {{convert|1500|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}.{{Sfn|Wilkinson|1945|p=297}}
Applications
- CANSA C.6.{{Sfn|Thompson|1963|p=46}}
- IMAM Ro.63.{{Sfn|Thompson|1963|p=13}}
- Nardi FN.316.{{Sfn|Brotzu|Caso|Cosolo|1977|p=68}}
- Ambrosini SAI.7.{{Sfn|Stocchetti|2009}}
Specifications
{{pistonspecs|
|ref=Wilkinson, 1945{{Sfn|Wilkinson|1945|p=297}}
|type= 6-cylinder air cooled inverted in-line aircraft piston engine
|bore= {{convert|125|mm|in|abbr=on}}
|stroke= {{convert|130|mm|in|abbr=on}}
|displacement= {{convert|9.6|L|in3|0|abbr=on}}
|length= {{convert|1625|mm|in|abbr=on}}
|diameter=
|width= {{convert|410|mm|in|abbr=on}}
|height= {{convert|800|mm|in|abbr=on}}
|weight= {{convert|225|kg|lb|abbr=on}}
|valvetrain= Two valves per cylinder with overhead camshaft
|supercharger= Single stage, 10.0:1
|turbocharger=
|fuelsystem=
|oilsystem=
|coolingsystem= Air-cooled
|power=
- (Take-off) {{convert|300|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} at 2700 rpm
- (Normal) {{convert|270|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} at 2500 rpm at {{convert|4600|m|ft|abbr=on}}
- (Cruising) {{convert|210|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} at 2200 rpm at {{convert|4600|m|ft|abbr=on}}
|specpower= 23.5 kW/L (0.51 hp/in³)
|compression= 6.5:1
|fuelcon= 320 g/(hp•h) (0.53 lb/(hp•h))
|specfuelcon=
|oilcon= 9.3 g/(hp•h) (0.02 lb/(hp•h))
|power/weight= 1.00 kW/kg (0.61 hp/lb)
|designer=
|reduction_gear= 0.79:1
|general_other=
|components_other=
|performance_other=
}}
See also
{{aircontent
|see also=
|related=
|similar aircraft=
|lists=
|similar engines=
}}
References
=Notes=
{{reflist|30em}}
=Bibliography=
- {{cite book|last=Arena|first=Nino|title=L'Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana: la guerra aerea in Italia 1943-1945|place=Parma|publisher=Albertelli|year=1996|language=Italian}}
- {{cite book|last1=Brotzu|first1=Emilio|last2=Caso|first2=Michele|last3=Cosolo|first3=Gherardo Cosolo|title=Aerei Italiani nella 2ª Guerra Mondiale Vol.11, Scuola-Collegamento|place=Roma|publisher=Edizioni Bizzarri|year=1977|isbn=978-8-8859-0949-6|language=Italian}}
- {{cite web|last=Stocchetti|first=Roberto|title=SAI Ambrosini 7, immagini, scheda e storia|year=2009|website=Ali e Uomini|url=http://www.alieuomini.it/AJAX/catalogo/dettaglio2_catalogo/101/|language=Italian|accessdate=8 September 2018}}
- {{cite book|last=Thompson|first=Jonathan|title=Italian Civil and Military Aircraft, 1930-1945|place=Los Angeles|publisher=Aero Publishers|year=1963|isbn=1-2584-4296-5}}
- {{cite book|last=Wilkinson|first=Paul|title=Aircraft Engines of the World|place=New York|publisher=P H Wilkinson|year=1945}}
{{Isotta Fraschini aeroengines}}
Category:Aircraft air-cooled inline piston engines