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General Motors X-250, Radial 4 (8) Engine, ca. 1940. Creator: General Motors
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General Motors X-250, Radial 4 (8) Engine, ca. 1940. Creator: General Motors
A direct-drive, liquid-cooled, supercharged, two-stroke cycle engine, this General Motors engine was a very unusual design incorporating four cylinder blocks, each containing two cylinder bores with a common combustion chamber. At least one application was a small radio controlled target aircraft, and it also powered an Oldsmobile Eight automobile. Flight testing by famed racing and test pilot Tony LeVier successfully continued through 1940 as high as 7.6 km (25, 000 ft.) in a Cessna Airmaster C-165, but other pressing war priorities led to termination of the project. A 1942 engineering report written by GMs Research Laboratories, led at the time by its highly regarded director Charles F. Kettering, stated that the engine had excellent power/displacement and power/weight ratios, low fuel consumption, and very low vibration characteristics. Removed from the Cessna in June 1946, the aircraft was later refurbished and flown again
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This print showcases the General Motors X-250, Radial 4 (8) Engine, circa 1940. Created by General Motors, this engine stands out for its unique design featuring four cylinder blocks with two cylinder bores and a shared combustion chamber. Originally intended for various applications including a small radio-controlled target aircraft and an Oldsmobile Eight automobile, it gained recognition through flight testing conducted by renowned racing and test pilot Tony LeVier. LeVier's successful tests in a Cessna Airmaster C-165 pushed the engine to impressive heights of up to 7.6 km (25,000 ft. ). However, despite its promising performance, the project was ultimately terminated due to other pressing war priorities during that time. A detailed engineering report from GM's Research Laboratories in 1942 praised this exceptional engine for its outstanding power/displacement and power/weight ratios. It also highlighted its low fuel consumption and remarkably smooth operation with minimal vibrations. The photograph captures the moment when this remarkable engine was removed from the Cessna aircraft in June 1946 after years of service. Although no longer utilized commercially or as part of ongoing projects, this piece of engineering excellence continues to be admired for its innovative design and impressive capabilities.
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