| AI-26 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Polish-made AI-26V (LIT-3) used to power SM-1 (Mi-1) helicopter, displayed in Finnish Aviation Museum | |
| Type | Radial engine |
| National origin | Soviet Union |
| Manufacturer | Ivchenko |
| First run | 1945 |
| Major applications | Mil Mi-1 |
The Ivchenko AI-26 is a seven-cylinder air-cooled radial engine used in early Soviet helicopters and later used in light utility aircraft.
The AI-26 engine was designed by A.G Ivchenko in 1945 with the early designation M-26, later the designation was changed to AI-26. Like the Shvetsov ASh-21 which is basically one bank of cylinders from the Shvetsov ASh-82, the AI-26 was also influenced by the ASh-82. The AI-26 retained the bore, stroke and displacement of the ASh-21 while incorporating new features peculiar to its role. This similarity allowed the AI-26 to use the same production jigs as the ASh-21 and ASh-82 which reduced costs and simplified production.
The engine was envisioned as a helicopter engine, but the early test models lacked the necessary equipment to facilitate this role, such as an auxiliary cooling fan, reduction gears and clutch. The GR suffix means "Gelikopter", or helicopter. Engine testing was completed by early 1946 and by 1947 helicopter testing had begun. In late 1947 the decision to mass-produce the engine was made and production commenced at factory No.478 located in Zaporizhia. Between 1947 and the 1970s some 1,300 AI-26GR's were produced. The AI-26V model was also produced in Poland during the 1960s as the LiT-3 and later as the PZL-3S.
The radial engine is a reciprocating type internal combustion engine configuration in which the cylinders "radiate" outward from a central crankcase like the spokes of a wheel. It resembles a stylized star when viewed from the front, and is called a "star engine" in some other languages.
The Nakajima Homare was an air-cooled twin-row 18 cylinder radial Japanese aircraft engine manufactured during World War II. Producing almost 2,000 horsepower, it was used widely by both the Imperial Japanese Army and the Imperial Japanese Navy. Given the Navy service designation NK9, the "Homare" was also given the company designation NBA, Army experimental designation Ha-45 (ハ45) or, Army long designation Nakajima Army Type 4 1,900 hp Air-Cooled Radial and, (coincidentally) unified designation code of Ha-45.
The Shvetsov M-11 is a five-cylinder air-cooled radial aircraft engine produced in the Soviet Union between 1923 and 1952.
The Mil Mi-1 was a Soviet three- or four-seat light utility helicopter. It was the first Soviet helicopter to enter serial production. It is powered by one 575 hp (429 kW) Ivchenko AI-26V radial piston engine. It entered service in 1950 and was first seen on the 1951 Soviet Aviation Day, Tushino and was produced for 16 years. More than 1,000 were built in the USSR and 1,594 in Poland, as SM-1.
The Shvetsov ASh-82 (M-82) is a Soviet 14-cylinder, two-row, air-cooled radial aircraft engine developed from the Shvetsov M-62. The M-62 was the result of development of the M-25, which was a licensed version of the Wright R-1820 Cyclone.
The Vedeneyev M14P is a Russian nine-cylinder, four-stroke, air-cooled, petrol-powered radial engine. Producing 360 hp (268 kW), its design dates from the 1940s, and is itself a development of the Ivchenko AI-14 engine. The engine has been used extensively by the Yakovlev and Sukhoi Design Bureaus. The M14P is also used in some experimental aircraft and kit designs such as the Murphy Moose, Radial Rocket, Pitts Model 12, and others.
The Shvetsov ASh-62 is a nine-cylinder, air-cooled, radial aircraft engine produced in the Soviet Union. A version of this engine is produced in Poland as the ASz-62 and the People's Republic of China as the HS-5.
The Ivchenko AI-14 is a nine-cylinder, air-cooled, radial piston engine designed in the Soviet Union to power aircraft.
The Tumansky M-88 was an air-cooled radial engine for aircraft developed in the Soviet Union shortly before World War II.
The Shvetsov M-25 was an aircraft radial engine produced in the Soviet Union (USSR) in the 1930s and 1940s, a licensed production variant of the Wright R-1820-F3.
The Kinner B-5 was a popular five cylinder American radial engine for light general and sport aircraft of the 1930s.
The Shvetsov ASh-21 is a seven-cylinder single-row air-cooled radial aero engine.
The Shvetsov ASh-73 was an 18-cylinder, air-cooled, radial aircraft engine produced between 1947 and 1957 in the Soviet Union. It was primarily used as the powerplant for the Tupolev Tu-4 heavy bomber, an unlicensed, reverse engineered copy of the American Boeing B-29 Superfortress.
The Alvis Pelides was an unflown British air-cooled radial aero engine first developed in 1936. The Pelides Major was a projected but unbuilt development as were the Alcides, Alcides Major and the Maeonides Major, the Alvis aircraft engine range taking their names from Greek mythology.
The Shvetsov M-71 was a Soviet radial engine built in small numbers during World War II. It was derived from the Shvetsov M-25, which was a license-built copy of the American Wright R-1820-F3 Cyclone engine.
The Shvetsov ASh-2 was a 28-cylinder, air-cooled, radial aircraft engine designed in the Soviet Union in the late 1940s. It was inferior to the Dobrynin VD-4K engine and did not enter production. One of the problems was air-cooling which ate up to 50% of the total engine power at 15000 meters. In contrast, the liquid-cooled VD-4K required only 5% of power for cooling at the same altitude.
The Nakajima Mamoru engine was a 14-cylinder, air-cooled, two-row radial engine of 1870 hp. The Nakajima model designation for this engine was NAK while it was an experimental project, in service it was known as the NK7, and known as the Ha-103 by the Army and "Mamori" or "Mamoru" by the Navy. According to unified designation code it was Ha-36. The meanings of these two Japanese words are very similar, Mamori translates as 'protection' and Mamoru, translates as 'to guard, protect, defend and obey'.
The WN-3 was a Polish seven-cylinder air-cooled radial engine of the 1950s, produced by WSK-Kalisz, designed by Wiktor Narkiewicz.
The Warbirds ASz-62 IR is a Czech aircraft engine, based on the Shvetsov ASh-62 and produced by Warbirds-engines of Prague for use in warbirds and homebuilt aircraft.
The Piaggio P.XIX was an Italian aircraft engine produced by Rinaldo Piaggio S.p.A. during World War II and used to power aircraft of the Regia Aeronautica.
