Nubian | |
---|---|
Type | V-8, 90 degree, water-cooled, piston engine |
National origin | United Kingdom |
Manufacturer | Sunbeam[1] |
Designer | Louis Coatalen[1] |
First run | 1916[1] |
Major applications | Saunders T.1[1] |
Produced | 1916-1917[1] |
Number built | 36[1] |
The Sunbeam Nubian, also called the Sunbeam 155 hp, was a British 8-cylinder aero-engine that was first run in 1916.[1]
In March 1916 Louis Coatalen, the chief designer at Sunbeam, responded to the Admiralty's request for more powerful engines by designing the V-8 Nubian. The Nubian featured the twin overhead camshafts and four valves of his prewar engines for Grand Prix and TT racing cars. With a bore of 95 mm (4 in) and stroke of 135 mm (5 in) the Nubian displaced 7.685 L (469 cu in) and was rated at 155 hp (116 kW) with a reduction gear ratio of 0.615:1.[1]
The original engine was built with a 60-degree angle between cylinder banks, but severe vibration problems forced Coatalen to redesign it with a 90-degree angle, emerging as the Nubian II. Intended to power the Supermarine AD Flying Boat, the teething troubles of the Nubian forced Supermarine to use a 150 hp (112 kW) Hispano-Suiza V-8 engine instead.[1]
Deliveries of the Nubian II began in October 1917, by which time the Nubian was overshadowed by the more powerful V-8s from Hispano-Suiza and the 200 hp (149 kW) Sunbeam Arab. The only aircraft known to have been powered by a Nubian was the Saunders T.1, but some of the 36 engines built, of 50 ordered, are believed to have been supplied to the Imperial Russian Air Service.[1]
The Nubian suffered from a poor design decision at first and was overtaken by events which prevented widespread use, but its cousin, the V-12 Sunbeam Afridi and its family members found greater success.[1]
Data from Sunbeam Aero-Engines[1]
Comparable engines
Related lists