OK, so 100 kW is now routinely available from engines under two litres, why does it take an 11 litre engine to produce only 298 kW ? Is there a particular reason for it to be so inefficient ?
- The Lycoming range (and similar aircraft engines) are designed to run at comparatively low revolutions (2,500 rpm) and at a low state of tune (compression ratio etc), it's done deliberately to reduce stress and wear on parts to make the engine more durable/reliable for aircraft use. A Formula I engine can squeeze 800 hp out of 2.4 Litres by running at 18,000 rpm but they don't last much longer than five races, doesn't matter if it blows up safety-wise as the driver is usually on the ground and doesn't need to look for a place to land!
- It's a good point though and should be covered at aircraft engine if it isn't already. Cheers Nimbus (Cumulus nimbus floats by) 10:00, 16 June 2012 (UTC)Reply
- Also a car engine runs at low power most of the time. An aicraft engine must run at high power constantly, for hours on end. However let's keep in mind this is a 60's engine and is built exactly the same 50 years on. It has been a slow seller from the start and is still not popular. Aesma (talk) 09:52, 25 February 2017 (UTC)Reply
