Isotta Fraschini Zeta

During the 1930s, Isotta Fraschini had developed a line of air cooled inverted V12 aircraft engines including the {{convert|540|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Gamma. These proved moderately successful at a time when most Italian aircraft engines were radials, including Isotta Fraschini's own K.14.Gunston, 2006, p.107 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.Ceruschi, 2003, p.41

The Zeta was, in essence, two Gamma R.C.15 V-12 engines coupled to a single crankshaft. 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.Pearce, 2017 The whole engine was designed to be fitted as a replaceable power pack.

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.Brotzu, Caso, Cosolo 1971, p. 29 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.Brotzu, Caso, Cosolo 1972, p. 30

However, engine development was proving difficult; the first Zeta R.C.45 was run on 28 February 1941,rated at {{convert|1200|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}}, but would only develop {{convert|1085|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}}, as well as having many other issues. 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.Alegi, 2001, p.35 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.Brotzu, Caso, Cosolo 1971, p. 30

Further development ceased following the armistice on 8 September 1943. 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.Alegi, 2001, p.34 The sole F.6Z remained the only aircraft flown with the Zeta.Green and Swanborough, p. 110

;Zeta R.C.15/45 : Project with two-speed supercharger, rated at {{cvt|1500|m}} and {{cvt|4500|m}}.

;Zeta R.C.21/60 : Project with two-speed supercharger, rated at {{cvt|2100|m}} and {{cvt|6000|m}}.

;Zeta R.C.22/50 : Project with two-speed supercharger, rated at {{cvt|2200|m}} and {{cvt|5000|m}}.

;Zeta R.C.24/60 : {{convert|1250|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} version with a two-speed Wright supercharger, rated at {{cvt|2400|m}} and {{cvt|6000|m}}, for the Reggiane Re.2004 and Caproni-Vizzola F.6Z.

;Zeta R.C.35 : Initial design, {{convert|1150|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}}, rated at {{cvt|3500|m}}.

;Zeta R.C.40 : Project, rated at {{cvt|4000|m}}.

;Zeta R.C.42 : {{convert|1200|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} project, rated at {{cvt|4200|m}}.

;Zeta R.C.45 : Version for Caproni-Vizzola F.6Z, rated at {{cvt|4500|m}}.

;Zeta R.C.50SD : Project with Isotta Fraschini supercharger, rated at {{cvt|5000|m}}.

• Ambrosini 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)

{{pistonspecs|

|ref={{cite web |last1=Pearce |first1=William |title=Isotta Fraschini Zeta X-24 Aircraft Engine |url=https://oldmachinepress.com/2017/06/05/isotta-fraschini-zeta-x-24-aircraft-engine/ |website=Old Machine Press |accessdate=5 September 2018 |date=5 June 2017}}

|type= 24-cylinder, six row, four bank, air cooled X engine

|bore= {{convert|125|mm|in|abbr=on}}

|stroke= {{convert|130|mm|in|abbr=on}}

|displacement= {{convert|38.3|L|in3|0|abbr=on}}

|length= {{convert|1730|mm|in|abbr=on}}

|diameter=

|width= {{convert|1000|mm|in|abbr=on}}

|height= {{convert|1000|mm|in|abbr=on}}

|weight={{convert|760|kg|lb|abbr=on}}

|valvetrain= Two valves per cylinder with dual overhead camshafts

|supercharger= Single stage, mechanical

|turbocharger=

|fuelsystem=

|fueltype= Gasoline

|oilsystem=

|coolingsystem= Air-cooled

|power= {{convert|919|kW|hp|0|abbr=on}} at 2700 rpm

|specpower=

|compression= 6.5:1

|fuelcon=

|specfuelcon=

|oilcon=

|power/weight=

|designer=

|reduction_gear=

|general_other=Air starter

|components_other=

|performance_other=

}}

{{aircontent

|see also=

|related=

|similar aircraft=

|lists=

• List of aircraft engines

|similar engines=

• Armstrong Siddeley Deerhound
• Continental XH-2860
• Napier Dagger
• Rolls-Royce Exe

}}

{{Commons category}}

{{reflist}}

• {{cite book|last=Alegi|first=Gregory|title=Reggiane RE 2005|publisher=La Bancarella Aeronautica|place=Turin|year=2001|language=Italian}}
• {{cite book|last1=Brotzu|first1=Emilio|last2=Caso|first2=Michele|last3=Cosolo|first3=Gherardo Cosolo|title=Dimensioen Cielo - Caccia Assalto|volume=2|place=Roma|publisher=Edizioni Bizzarri|year=1971|language=Italian}}
• {{cite book|last1=Brotzu|first1=Emilio|last2=Caso|first2=Michele|last3=Cosolo|first3=Gherardo Cosolo|title=Dimensioen Cielo - Caccia Assalto|volume=3|place=Roma|publisher=Edizioni Bizzarri|year=1972|language=Italian}}
• {{cite journal|last=Cernuschi|first=Enrico|title=Il motore impossibile|journal=Storia Militare|number=120|place=Parma|publisher=Ermanno Albertelli Editore|year=2003|pages=36–43|language=Italian}}
• {{cite book|last1=Green|first1=William|last2=Swanborough|first2=Gordon|title=The Complete Book of Fighters: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Every Fighter Aircraft Built and Flown|place=New York|publisher=Smithmark Publishers|year=1994|ISBN=0-8317-3939-8}}
• {{cite book|last=Gunston|first=Bill|title=World Encyclopedia of Aero Engines|place=Stroud|publisher=Sutton Publishing|year=2006|isbn=0-7509-4479-X}}
• {{cite web|last=Pearce|first=Willian|title=Isotta Fraschini Zeta X-24 Aircraft Engine|website=Old Machine Press|year=2017|url=https://oldmachinepress.com/2017/06/05/isotta-fraschini-zeta-x-24-aircraft-engine/|accessdate=4 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}}

{{Isotta Fraschini aeroengines}}

Category:Air-cooled aircraft piston engines

Category:1940s aircraft piston engines

Zeta

Category:X engines