Aircraft Engines

Aircraft engines are almost always either lightweight piston engines or gas turbines. Piston engines, also known as reciprocating engines and they are classified according to cylinder arrangement.

1. In-line engine:

​In in-line engines, cylinders are lined up in a one row. Typically they have even number of cylinders, but there are some with three- and five- cylinders. If the engine crankshaft is located above the cylinders, it is called an inverted in-line engine. In-line engines are either air-cooled or Liquid-cooled.

2. V-type engine:

In V-Type engines cylinders are in two in-line banks, typically at an angle of 60-90 degrees apart from each other and driving a common crankshaft. The vast majority of V-type engines are water-cooled and provide higher power-to-weight ratio than an in-line engine, while having a small frontal area.

3. Horizontally opposed engine:

In horizontally opposed engines, cylinders are arranged in two flat rows opposing each other with centrally located crankshaft. The engines are predominantly air-cooled. Layout of the cylinders cancels the forces of reciprocating action, resulting in a smooth running engine.

4. H- configuration engine:

An H configuration engine is essentially a pair of horizontally opposed engines placed together, with the two crankshafts geared together

5. Radial engine:

In radial engines, cylinders are arranged radially around the centrally located crankshaft.