The ERCO IL-116 was an American
inline aircraft engine
An aircraft engine, often referred to as an aero engine, is the power component of an aircraft propulsion system. Most aircraft engines are either piston engines or gas turbines, although a few have been rocket powered and in recent years many ...
designed and built in the late 1930s. The type was not placed into series production due to competition from cheaper engines.
Design and development
In late
1938
Events
January
* January 1
** The Constitution of Estonia#Third Constitution (de facto 1938–1940, de jure 1938–1992), new constitution of Estonia enters into force, which many consider to be the ending of the Era of Silence and the a ...
, the
Engineering and Research Corporation
Engineering and Research Corporation (ERCO) was started by Henry Berliner in 1930. Berliner was the son of Emile Berliner, who had patented numerous inventions relating to sound and acoustics, and pioneer of helicopter development with the exper ...
(ERCO) searched unsuccessfully for a suitable engine for its new "safe" airplane, the
Ercoupe
The ERCO Ercoupe is an American low-wing monoplane aircraft that was first flown in 1937. It was originally manufactured by the Engineering and Research Corporation (ERCO) shortly before World War II; several other manufacturers continued its ...
. ERCO hired
Harold Morehouse
Harold may refer to:
People
* Harold (given name), including a list of persons and fictional characters with the name
* Harold (surname), surname in the English language
* András Arató, known in meme culture as "Hide the Pain Harold"
Arts a ...
, former engineer in charge of small engine design at
Continental Motors, to design a new engine. He came up with the inverted, in-line IL-116, which provided good pilot visibility and enhanced aircraft streamlining.
ERCO installed the IL-116 in the prototype
Ercoupe Model 310 in
1939
This year also marks the start of the Second World War, the largest and deadliest conflict in human history.
Events
Below, the events of World War II have the "WWII" prefix.
January
* January 1
** Third Reich
*** Jews are forbidden to ...
. The engine performed well, but ERCO discontinued it when Continental introduced the
Continental A65
The Continental O-170 engine is the collective military designation for a family of small aircraft engines, known under the company designation of A50, A65, A75 and A80. The line was designed and built by Continental Motors commencing in the 194 ...
engine in
1940
A calendar from 1940 according to the Gregorian calendar, factoring in the dates of Easter and related holidays, cannot be used again until the year 5280.
Events
Below, the events of World War II have the "WWII" prefix.
January
*January ...
, which generated comparable horsepower at half the cost. ERCO manufactured parts for six IL-116s but only three were built.
Engines on display
An ERCO IL-116, believed to be the last remaining engine, is on display at the
National Air and Space Museum
The National Air and Space Museum of the Smithsonian Institution, also called the Air and Space Museum, is a museum in Washington, D.C., in the United States.
Established in 1946 as the National Air Museum, it opened its main building on the Nat ...
.
NASM - ERCO I-L 116
Retrieved: July 29, 2009.
Specifications (IL-116)
See also
References
Notes
{{reflist
Air-cooled aircraft piston engines
1930s aircraft piston engines
Inverted aircraft piston engines