SPA 6A

The SPA 6A is an Italian water-cooled inline six-cylinder aero engine of the World War I era. The SPA 6A is mostly known for its use in the Ansaldo SVA high speed reconnaissance aircraft.[1][2]

6A
S.P.A. 6A engine on display at the Gianni Caproni Museum of Aeronautics
Type Water-cooled Piston aero engine
National origin Italy
Manufacturer Società Piemontese Automobili (S.P.A.), Ansaldo, Breda, Talomona, Industrie Mecchaniche e Ferroviarie of Arezzo
First run c.1916
Major applications Ansaldo SVA
Number built 3,000

Design and development

The Societa Piemontese Automobili (SPA) of Turin, Italy started building aircraft engines in 1908 and prior to 1916 had built flat, vee and radial engines. In 1916 SPA began manufacturing a straight-six engine known as the 6A.[3]

The SPA 6A was designed with steel cylinders arranged in pairs with a common welded water jacket. The type made use of relatively advanced features such as aluminium pistons and a 6 degree overlap in valve timing.[3]

The engine was ordered into mass production by the Italian Military Aviation Technical Division to equip the Ansaldo SVA aircraft.[2] In addition to production by SPA, the 6A engine was manufactured by Ansaldo, Breda, Talomona and Industrie Mecchaniche e Ferroviarie of Arezzo.[3]

The Ansaldo SVA was one of the fastest aircraft of WW1 with a top speed of 230 km/h (143 mph).[4] During WW1 Anasaldo SVAs made a sensational flight over Vienna to drop propaganda leaflets. Other famous exploits of the Ansaldo SVA included a 1920 Rome-Tokyo flight and a 1919 crossing of the Andes.[2]

Around 3,000 SPA 6A engines were produced in three variants: normal, semi super-compressed and super-compressed.[2][3] Engines of this type remained in service until the 1930s.[2]

Variants
SPA 6A Normal
Rated for 150 hp (112 kW) at 1,600 rpm with a displacement of 14.56 L (889 cu in) and a weight of 255 kg (562 lb).
SPA 6A Semi-Super-Compressed
Identical to the normal 6A but with the cylinder bore increased to 137mm. Rated for 200 hp (149 kW) but could develop 235 hp (175 kW) at 1,700 rpm.
SPA 6-2-A Super-Compressed
Displacement 16.62 L (1,014 cu in) with a weight of 270 kg (595 lb). Rated at 250 hp (186 kW) but could develop 310 hp (231 kW) at 1,850 rpm.

Applications

Specifications (6A Normal)

Data from Angle [3]

General characteristics

Components
  • Valvetrain: SOHC, two valves per cylinder
  • Fuel system: Twin Zenith carburettors or one Duplex Zenith type 55-DC carburettor
  • Oil system: Dry-sump
  • Cooling system: Water-cooled
  • Reduction gear: Direct-drive
  • Twin Marelli ignition magnetos

Performance

See also

Comparable engines

Related lists

References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to SPA 6A.
  1. Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War I. London: Random House. 2001. p. 316. ISBN 1-85170-347-0.
  2. Caramanna, Giorgio. "The Italian Air Force Museum of Vigna di Valle and its Engine Collection". enginehistory.org. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  3. Angle, Glenn D. (1921). Airplane Engine Encyclopedia. Dayton, Ohio: The Otterbein Press. pp. 462–464.
  4. Cattaneo, Gianna (1966). The S.V.A. (Ansaldo) Scouts - Profile Publications Number 61. Surrey, UK: Profile Publications Ltd. p. 10.
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