Since the engine is 91 years old, a limited test program was planned that would obtain important data while minimizing the run time. Numerous test runs were made, varying both the test equipment and fuel. Exxon-Mobil generously produced a vintage fuel, called \u201965 test\u2019, which was used as well as modern 80-octane aviation fuel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Other variations included two different size fuel flow nozzles, the degree of ignition spark timing, and the emissions header both installed and removed. The engine was run from idling speed to full power. By carefully controlling the test parameters, the team was able to measure a full range of performance.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n
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In a letter dated April 12, 1911, Orville stated that \u201cWe look upon reliability in running as of much more importance than lightness of weight in aeroplane motors.\u201d Did the results support this statement? What were the results? How was the Wrights\u2019 preference for reliability demonstrated in the engine\u2019s performance?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The test results showed low volumetric efficiency; variability in the charge from cylinder to cylinder due to suction intake valves; low thermal efficiency; variability in air\/fuel ratio from cylinder to cylinder(typically rich); and high fuel consumption (about double modern engines).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, the rich air\/fuel ratio, suction activated valves, auxiliary ports and low operating speed of this engine all contributed to enhanced reliability by lowering the cylinder head temperatures. Problems associated with high head temperatures included valve failures and detonation, which were common in engines of this period. By intentionally detuning the engine, a significant gain in longevity was achieved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Combined with their highly efficient propellers, the engine provided sufficient reliable power for the mature Wright aircraft.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
Production of Vertical Four engines ended in 1915. The Wright Company eventually became reorganized as the Wright Aeronautical Company and was one of the most respected producers of aircraft engines in the country. Although engine technology developed far beyond the Wrights\u2019 innovations, the precision of their engineering and engine design remains one of their most lasting, if least well known, achievements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Vertical Four Serial #20 will fly again. The Wright Experience is currently building a new model \u201cB\u201d, whose power plant will be Vertical Four Serial #20. The performance of the engine in the dynamometer tests proves its reliability. The engine is also serving as a model for new production engines, as well as for the restoration of three other original Vertical Four Engines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since Wright engines were manufactured in significant numbers in the US and Europe, there are still a number of original Wright engines in collections around the world. The Horizontal engines are in the collections of the Air and Space Museum (1903 Flyer), Carillon Park (1905 Flyer III), and the Engineer\u2019s Club of Dayton (engine #3).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The National Air and Space Museum has four vertical engines: the 1909 Military Flyer engine (vertical four), the Vin Fiz Engine (vertical four), and two Wright six-cylinder vertical engines. Other Wright engines are in the collection of the Air Force Museum, the Franklin Institute, and the Musee de l\u2019Air, the Connecticut Aviation Historical Society, the Scottish Museum, the Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Vertical Four #20 remains the only operating original Wright engine in the world.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Engine No. 3 Building on Success Like all their designs, the Wright brothers\u2019 engines evolved in stages. As their abilities as pilots developed and the performance of the Flyers improved, the engine was modified to meet the growing demand for power. Engine Specifications Although the Wright brothers shared credit for all their work, their remarkable … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wrightexperience.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1131"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wrightexperience.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wrightexperience.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wrightexperience.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wrightexperience.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1131"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.wrightexperience.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1131\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1237,"href":"https:\/\/www.wrightexperience.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1131\/revisions\/1237"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wrightexperience.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1131"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}