ABC Wasp

ABC Wasp
	The WASP engine
Type	Radial engine
National origin	United Kingdom
Manufacturer	ABC Motors
Designer	Granville Bradshaw
First run	1916
Number built	56

The ABC Wasp was an experimental 170 hp (127 kW) seven-cylinder radial engine designed by the noted British engineer Granville Bradshaw, and primarily built by ABC Motors Limited. An order for twelve experimental ABC Wasp engines was placed with Guy Motors on 19 April 1918.^[1] Eight ABC Wasp engines were made by Crossley Motors Ltd of Manchester, England.^[2]

Design and development

The ABC Wasp was one of the first large non-rotary air-cooled radials. At a weight of 290 pounds (131 kg), it had a reasonable power-to-weight ratio at 0.6 horsepower per pound. This World War I–era engine is noteworthy because it was one of the first in which the cylinders were coated with copper in an attempt to dissipate heat. The ABC Wasp never evolved beyond the experimental stage, but it was the predecessor of the unsuccessful Dragonfly engine.^[3]^[4]

Variants

Wasp I: 1918, 160 hp (119 kW) 4.5 in × 5.9 in (110 mm × 150 mm)^[5]
Wasp II: 1919, 200 hp (149 kW) 4.75 in × 6.25 in (121 mm × 159 mm)^[5]

Applications

Wasp I

Wasp II

Specifications (Wasp I)

Data from Lumsden.^[6]

General characteristics

Type: 7-cylinder air-cooled radial
Bore: 4.53 in (115 mm)
Stroke: 5.9 in (150 mm)
Displacement: 667.1 cu in (10.78 L)
Diameter: 42 in (1,067 mm)
Dry weight: 290 lb (131 kg)

Components

Fuel system: 2 Claudel-Hobson Carburettors
Fuel type: 40–50 octane petrol
Cooling system: Air-cooled

Performance

Power output: 185 hp (138 kW) at 1,750 rpm
Compression ratio: 4.05:1
Power-to-weight ratio: 0.63 hp/lb (1.05 kW/kg)

References

Notes

^ "Aircraft Component Manufacturers – Guy Motors". Archived from the original on 1 June 2008. Retrieved 23 December 2008.
^ "Aircraft engine, ABC Wasp No.1". Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences. Archived from the original on 5 March 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
^ "Fact Sheets : British ABC Wasp : British ABC Wasp". Archived from the original on 29 December 2008. Retrieved 23 December 2008.
^ "OLD RHINEBECK AERODROME – ABC Wasp". Archived from the original on 8 June 2008. Retrieved 23 December 2008.
^ ^a ^b Angle, Glenn D. (1921). Airplane Engine Encyclopedia. Dayton, Ohio: THE OTTERBEIN PRESS.
^ Lumsden 2003, p.52.

Bibliography

Gunston, Bill (1986). World Encyclopedia of Aero Engines. Wellingborough: Patrick Stephens. p. 9.
Lumsden, Alec. British Piston Engines and their Aircraft. Marlborough, Wiltshire: Airlife Publishing, 2003. ISBN 1-85310-294-6.

[Aircraft_Component_Manufacturers_-_Guy_Motors-1] "Aircraft Component Manufacturers – Guy Motors". Archived from the original on 1 June 2008. Retrieved 23 December 2008.

[2] "Aircraft engine, ABC Wasp No.1". Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences. Archived from the original on 5 March 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2019.

[British_ABC_Wasp-3] "Fact Sheets : British ABC Wasp : British ABC Wasp". Archived from the original on 29 December 2008. Retrieved 23 December 2008.

[ABC_Wasp-4] "OLD RHINEBECK AERODROME – ABC Wasp". Archived from the original on 8 June 2008. Retrieved 23 December 2008.

[Angle-5] Angle, Glenn D. (1921). Airplane Engine Encyclopedia. Dayton, Ohio: THE OTTERBEIN PRESS.

[6] Lumsden 2003, p.52.

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