FLIGHTS ON CRUDE OIL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 29, 4 February 1933, Page 11 (Supplement)

FLIGHTS ON CRUDE OIL.

NEW ENGINE TESTS.

SAFETY AND ECONOMY,

'An important advance towards safer ■and cheaper flying is expected to follow elaborate tests by Air Ministry experts : at Farnborough, Hampshire, on a British ;heavy oil aero engine. Experiments in the design of Diesel .engines for aircraft have beon o going on for years, and a number of different makes have been produced. The latest type, known as the Condor, has now passed a rnnning test of 50 hours at full throttle. It is the first motor produced in Great Britain which runs successfully on heavy fuel and is light enough, for use in .ordinary aeroplanes. The engine develops 500 horse-power at approximately 2000 revolutions per minute. It weighs only 15041b. The ratio is therefore 31b per horsepower, which compares favourably with the 21b per horse-power of petrol .engines which require additional weight for cooling. , ~ , The figures of experts reveal that, •weight for weight, the heavy oil engine is the equal of the petrol type. Tremendous advantages in safety from fire and low costs will result from the introduction of the heavy-oil power unit. A number of Royal Air lorce machines have been equipped with the Condor, and are undergoing further tests at various altitudes.