Armstrong Siddeley Genet Major

Genet Major/Civet
Genet Major installed in a Southern Martlet at the Shuttleworth Collection
Type Radial aero engine
Manufacturer Armstrong Siddeley
First run 1928
Developed from Armstrong Siddeley Genet

The Armstrong Siddeley Genet Major is a British five-cylinder (later seven-cylinder), air-cooled, radial engine for aircraft, designed and built by Armstrong Siddeley and first run in 1928. It developed 140 horsepower (104 kW). In Royal Air Force use the seven-cylinder version was known as the Civet I. The Feliform names used are in line with company convention, the Genet and Civet[1] both being large cat-like carnivores.

Variants and applications

Genet Major I

The Genet Major 1 was a five-cylinder engine of 105 horsepower (78 kW) that was closely related to the Genet I but with increased bore and stroke.

Genet Major 1A (Civet I)

Armstrong Siddeley Civet
Armstrong Siddeley Genet Major IV on display at the Polish Aviation Museum

The Genet Major 1A (or Civet I in RAF service) was a seven-cylinder development of the Genet Major I, nominally rated at 145 horsepower (108 kW).

Genet Major III

As Genet Major IA but with cylinders using cast rocker boxes.

Genet Major IV

A geared propeller drive version of the Genet Major IA, 160 horsepower (120 kW).

Surviving engines

An Armstrong Siddeley Genet Major powers Southern Martlet (G-AAYX) which is owned and operated by the Shuttleworth Collection at Old Warden and flies at home air displays throughout the summer months.[2] An Armstrong Siddeley Genet Major 1A engine also powers the only surviving Civilian Aircraft Co.Ltd. 1931 vintage Civilian Coupe 02 monoplane (G-ABNT), which is airworthy and owned and operated by Shipping and Airlines Ltd based at Biggin Hill Airport, England.

Engines on display

Specifications (Genet Major IA/Civet I)

Data from Lumsden[6]

General characteristics

  • Type: 7-cylinder single-row radial piston engine
  • Bore: 4.25 in (107.95 mm)
  • Stroke: 4.5 in (114.3 mm)
  • Displacement: 452.01 cu in (7.3 L)
  • Length: 38.8 in (985.5 mm)
  • Diameter: 38.15 in (970 mm)
  • Dry weight: 327 lb (148 kg)

Components

Performance

See also

Related development

Comparable engines

Related lists

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Armstrong Siddeley Genet Major.

Notes

  1. ^ Lumsden 2003, p.71.
  2. ^ The Shuttleworth Collection - Southern Martlet Archived 17 February 2018 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved: 21 November 2017
  3. ^ Royal Air Force Museum Cosford - Armstrong Siddeley Genet Major 1A 'Civet' www.rafmuseum.org.uk Retrieved: 1 January 2014
  4. ^ "Zbiory - silniki lotnicze". Muzeum Lotnictwa Polskiego (Polish Aviation Museum) (in Polish). Polish Aviation Museum.
  5. ^ Aviation Heritage Museum
  6. ^ Lumsden 2003, p.71

Bibliography

  • Gunston, Bill (1986). World Encyclopedia of Aero Engines. Wellingborough: Patrick Stephens. p. 18.
  • Lumsden, Alec. British Piston Engines and their Aircraft. Marlborough, Wiltshire: Airlife Publishing, 2003. ISBN 1-85310-294-6.