Building New 100-Year Old Gnome Rotary Aero Engines In NZ

Tony Wytenburg from CAMS (Classic Aero Machining Service) talks to HAFU about the replica Gnome rotary aero engines that the company has been building for the last few years.

CAMS has reverse engineered these 100-year old aircraft engines, made some modern improvements for safety, and are selling them to aircraft builders wanting to put an authentic rotary engine into their new build World War One aircraft, albeit with a little extra safety that comes with a new and improved engine, rather than a 100-year old original.

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[jimnickles]

Good Work. The day after watching a History Channel show on these engines, which I knew nothing about previously, saved my life. The Four-barrel carb on our Built smallblock Stuck Wide Open on a small, curvy country road. Instead of panicking and getting killed in a wreck, I reached up and started turning the key Off and On, just like a Rotary, and drove it through the 90-degree s-curves to a wide spot where I pulled off, cleaned dirty underwear, and freed up the carb linkages...

[brunothepug]

If you like mechanical things you have to be fascinated with radial engines and this design in particular for its simplicity.

[karlhamson]

As a Canadian installing packaging machinery in Blenheim, I found need of a machine shop to modify some parts. Found Tony and got the tour of the first rotary under construction. Got my bits modified and seem to recall that the labour charge was 6 bottles of beer. A great guy!!

[scheusselmensch]

I was lucky to have spoke in person with a WW1 German pilot who lived here in Canada.When Tony says they're smooth, you've no idea how smooth. The German chap said that if the mechanics had balanced the prop well that the engine running on all cylinders was as smooth as an electric motor.

[johnbondza]

Absolutely amazing!

As a 7 year old in the 1950s, I flew a couple of times from Baragwanath SA. An old guy had a SE5a and some rotary. I got 1 trip in the de Havaland but the rotary was obviously a single seater. I have forgotten the plip of the motor and the overpowering smell of caster oil (and also the runs I suffered for the day following the rotary startup).

Thanks for the goose bumps. I got VERY nostalgic when I heard that sound. The imagined smell of caster oil.

[ditzydoo]

Good on your sirs, I applaud your not only bring back this venerable engine but advancing it for safety.

[nopenopenopeyes]

That engine is a thing of beauty. Very cool that you guys are keeping them alive for us younger folks to see.

[pilot]

What a breath of fresh air to see a NEW "old" rotary engine. Keep up the good work, Tony. Can't wait for someone to start building new Curtiss OX-5 engines. They're heavy, but I'll bet they would sell like hotcakes.

[steveskouson]

Back in the mid '70's, my metal shop teacher had
us cast carburetor bodies, for these Gnome engines.

He never had one to bring in (the engine, not the carb)
but I still remember the engines, even now.

steve

[wwkdiecastmore]

Another great video as always, thanks for having us aboard to get a chance to see this!...Bill

[BrunoWiebelt]

for a newbies like me it would have been interesting to get a walk thru on the drawing

[whalesong]

Well done and good philosophy going forward. If concerned about getting the smell of the castor oil, it only takes a little bit in the fuel itself to render that agreeable odor so using it in the total loss lubricant needs of the engine isn't a priority. Have been through many seasons of learning about the qualities of castor oil from motorcycle racing years ago - modern synthetics have covered the needs more than adequately and surely a balance will be struck to refine these modern rotary renditions to optimum service. Btw, had many visits to Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome to watch the ancient engines at work, what sights and sounds those were.

[charlesfoster]

Glad you are undertaking this noble cause. Wish someone would do this for small Continental C85 and C90 engines!

[Oldbmwrrs]

There is a castor replacement made for motorcycles called "Blendzall" which is (or was) very popular with 2 cycle racebikes. One good thing about it is it doesn't make as bad a gummy mess as castor. Worth checking out.

[michaelklepacz]

This is so epic. I had no idea about the gumming up though. 25 hours to clean up. I wonder what that entails exactly.

[algrayson]

The gyroscopic reaction of the airplanes powered by the Gnôme required some special control inputs!
Some gyroscopic effect comes from an ordinary motor's crankshaft and propeller but the rotating motor was a thing apart.

[donaldparlettjr]

I think the idea of finding an alternative to castor oil is a smart idea. The gumming from the castor is the bane, so to avoiding the bumming would be a god send

[daxtonbrown]

The rotating mass must be incredible. Amazing anyone was crazy enough to invent and build it.

[brentboswell]

I've noticed, via YouTube videos, that the world famous Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome seems to be flying many of their replicas with radial engines now. Here's hoping that they buy some of your engines to make them more authentic again! I miss the sound of the engines being "blipped" for landing...

[divyajnana]

beautiful craftsmanship and engineering