Wolseley Viper

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Viper
WolseleyViper.JPG
Rear view of preserved Wolseley Viper
Type Piston inline aero-engine
Manufacturer Wolseley Motors
First run1918
Major applications Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5

The Wolseley Viper is a British-built, high-compression derivative of the Hispano Suiza HS-8 liquid-cooled V-8 engine, built under licence by Wolseley Motors during World War I.

Contents

It powered later models of the S.E.5a, SPAD VII and other British or British-built aircraft designed for the Hispano-Suiza.

Variants

150 hp (110 kW) – licence produced version of the Hispano-Suiza 8Aa with minor structural changes and the weight increased to 455 lb (206 kg), retained the original's low compression 1.8 in (45 mm) pistons and compression ratio of 4.7:1. Only 100 built. [1] [2]
180 hp (130 kW) – high compression version of the Python I with high compression 2 in (50 mm) pistons and compression ratio increased to 5.3:1. [2]
200 hp (150 kW) – broadly the equivalent of the Hispano-Suiza 8Ab, compression ratio of 5.3:1 (19 early production engines had a higher compression ratio of 5.6:1), with 200 hp English Hispano propeller hubs. [3]
200 hp (150 kW) – modified version of the Hispano-Suiza 8B. [3] [4]
200 hp (150 kW) – modified and improved version of the Adder I. [3]
200 hp (150 kW) – modified and improved version of the Adder II with balanced crankshaft. [3]

Applications

Survivors

A Wolseley Viper powered Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5a is owned by, and on display at The Shuttleworth Collection, Old Warden Aerodrome in the UK. [5]

Engines on display

Specifications (W.4A Viper)

Data from Gunston [1] and Lumsden [3]

General characteristics

Components

Performance

See also

Related development

Comparable engines

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References

Notes

  1. 1 2 Gunston (1986), p. 76.
  2. 1 2 Lumsden (1994), pp. 156 & 232.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Lumsden (1994), p. 232.
  4. Gunston (1986), p. 171.
  5. The Shuttleworth Collection - SE5a Archived 23 July 2019 at the Wayback Machine www.shuttleworth.org Retrieved: 09 March 2017.

Bibliography

  • Gunston, Bill (1986). World Encyclopaedia of Aero Engines. Wellingborough: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN   0-85059-717-X.
  • Lumsden, Alec (1994). British Piston Engines and Their Aircraft. Shrewsbury: Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN   1-85310-294-6.