The SPA 6A is an Italian water-cooled inline six-cylinder aero engine of the World War I era. The SPA 6A is mostly known for its use in the Ansaldo SVA high speed reconnaissance aircraft.[1][2]
6A | |
---|---|
S.P.A. 6A engine on display at the Gianni Caproni Museum of Aeronautics | |
Type | Water-cooled Piston aero engine |
National origin | Italy |
Manufacturer | Società Piemontese Automobili (S.P.A.), Ansaldo, Breda, Talomona, Industrie Mecchaniche e Ferroviarie of Arezzo |
First run | c.1916 |
Major applications | Ansaldo SVA |
Number built | 3,000 |
The Societa Piemontese Automobili (SPA) of Turin, Italy started building aircraft engines in 1908 and prior to 1916 had built flat, vee and radial engines. In 1916 SPA began manufacturing a straight-six engine known as the 6A.[3]
The SPA 6A was designed with steel cylinders arranged in pairs with a common welded water jacket. The type made use of relatively advanced features such as aluminium pistons and a 6 degree overlap in valve timing.[3]
The engine was ordered into mass production by the Italian Military Aviation Technical Division to equip the Ansaldo SVA aircraft.[2] In addition to production by SPA, the 6A engine was manufactured by Ansaldo, Breda, Talomona and Industrie Mecchaniche e Ferroviarie of Arezzo.[3]
The Ansaldo SVA was one of the fastest aircraft of WW1 with a top speed of 230 km/h (143 mph).[4] During WW1, Anasaldo SVAs made a sensational flight over Vienna to drop propaganda leaflets. Other famous exploits of the Ansaldo SVA included a 1920 Rome-Tokyo flight and a 1919 crossing of the Andes.[2]
Around 3,000 SPA 6A engines were produced in three variants: normal, semi super-compressed and super-compressed.[2][3] Engines of this type remained in service until the 1930s.[2]
Data from Angle [3]
Comparable engines
Related lists