- X engine
An X engine is a
piston engine comprising twinned V-block engines horizontally-opposed to each other. Thus, the cylinders are arranged in four banks, driving a commoncrankshaft . Viewed head-on, this would appear as an X. X engines were oftencoupled engines derived from existing powerplants.This configuration is extremely uncommon, primarily due its weight and complexity as compared to a
radial engine . However, it was more compact (per number of cylinders) than a V-engine. Most examples of X engines are from theWorld War II era, and were designed for large military aircraft. The majority of these are X-24's based on existing V-12's. The following are examples of this engine type:*
Ford , as an X-8 prototype during the 1920s that led the way to the company's eventual Flathead V-8. [ [http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2008/01/27/sia-flashback-experimental-ford-engines/ Hemmings Auto Blogs » Blog Archive » SIA Flashback - Experimental Ford Engines ] ] [ [http://www.lutheransonline.com/servlet/lo_ProcServ/dbpage=page&mode=display&gid=00032000001081239920917940&pg=00032000001086276828588714 Eli Apolzon and daughter Ruth Family Page * * * Austin, Texas - Henry Ford's X-8 engine and how it will be used to raise dollars for Autistic and other Special Needs children ] ]
*Daimler Benz DB 604 , developed for theLuftwaffe ’sBomber B program. Development suspended.
*Isotta-Fraschini Zeta R.C. 24/60 , developed for theCaproni F6 fighter, but never fully completed beforeItaly ’s surrender in 1943.
*Rolls-Royce Vulture , based on two Peregrines and the powerplant of the ill-fatedAvro Manchester bomber and theHawker Tornado fighter.
*Napier Cub , a water cooled X-16 engine of the 1920's, which powered the prototypeBlackburn Cubaroo torpedo bomber.
*Honda is said to have experimented with an X-32 engine configuration in the 1960's for their Formula One racing efforts, but abandoned the design as being too complex and unreliable.References
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.