A FINE RECORD

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 232, 31 August 1937, Page 7

A FINE RECORD

AERO ENGINE’S PERFORMANCE. GIPSY MAJOR’S RELIABILITY. TROUBLE FREE TRAVELLING. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, Aug. 29. Remarkable proob of the reliability of the leading British aero engine—the Gipsy Major four-cylinder air-cooled engine, and the most widely used of all low-power units—is contained in the announcement of De Havilland Company’s decision to raise from 750 to 1000 hours the running time between the overhauls of'this engine. The decision was based on experience gained in operation all over the world of more than 220 Gipsy Major units which between them have computed at a most conservative estimate more than 1,100,000 hours’ running, equivalent in distance flown to more than 100,000,000 miles. In addition, thousands of hours of test running in the factory have shown the way to those detail improvements which have made for increased dependability and efficiency.

The Gipsy' I engine, forerunner of the Gipsy Major, was designed in 1927. At first the recommended overhaul period was 300 hours, increased later to 450 hours. The overhaul period remained at 450 hours for the Gipsy 11, Gipsy 111, and for the original Gipsy Major, introduced to the world market in 1932. Ip July, 1933, the overhaul period was' extended to 750 hours. Four years later it has grown to the unprecedented figures of 1000. This period represents a great deal of flying. The ordinary private owner, flying perhaps some 200 hours annually, can expect several years of trouble-free travel before his engine will need overhauling. A club can probably train 100 novices up to the stage of qualification for the amateur pilot’s license before the engine requires thorough inspection. Many commercial aircraft operators usiug Gipsy Major engines in Dragon and Dragonfly twin-engined biplanes and in smaller craft need not take down the engines more than once yearly. Since the first Gipsy 1 engine was marketed more than 6000 Gipsy engines have gone into service. Every day no fewer than 150 Gipsy units are engaged in airline duty over the British Isles alone. Qantas Empire Airways' has worked - Empire Air Services between Singapore and Brisbane—44oo miles, including 520 miles over the Timor Sea —with 100 per cent, regularity since the service was opened in February, 1935, using Gipsy VI eiigines, in D.H. 86 four-engined biplanes. Twelve Gipsies have flown the Atlantic.