Gnome Omega

The Gnome 7 Omega (commonly called the Gnome 50 hp) is a French seven-cylinder, air-cooled aero engine. It was shown at the Paris Aero Salon held in December 1908 and was first flown in 1909. It was the world's first rotary engine produced in quantity, and its introduction revolutionized the aviation industry and it was used by many early aircraft. It produced 50 horsepower (37 kW) from its capacity of 8 litres (488 cubic inches). A Gnome Omega engine powers the 1912 Blackburn Monoplane, owned and operated by the Shuttleworth Collection, the oldest known airworthy British-designed aeroplane worldwide. A two-row version of the same engine was also produced, known as the Gnome 14 Omega-Omega or Gnome 100 hp. The prototype Omega engine still exists, and is on display at the United States' National Air and Space Museum.

Variants

 * Gnome 7 Omega:Single-row 7-cyl. original version; 50 hp.
 * Gnome 14 Omega-Omega
 * Two-row, 14-cylinder version using Omega cylinders; 100 hp.

Gnome 7 Omega



 * Avro Type 500
 * Blackburn Mercury
 * Blackburn Monoplane
 * Blériot XI
 * Bristol Boxkite
 * Bristol Racing Biplane
 * Bristol Monoplane
 * Bristol-Prier P.1
 * Bristol-Coanda School Monoplane
 * Bristol-Coanda T.B.8
 * Burga Monoplane


 * Fabre Hydravion
 * Henry Farman Type Militaire
 * Grahame-White School Biplane
 * Koolhoven Heidevogel
 * Nieuport Monoplane
 * Paulhan Biplane
 * Pemberton-Billing P.B.9
 * Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.3
 * Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.4
 * Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.2
 * Short S.27
 * Short Tandem Twin


 * Short S.37 Tractor Monoplane
 * Short Triple Twin
 * Short S.47 Triple Tractor
 * Short S.62
 * Sopwith Bee
 * Sopwith Sparrow
 * Valkyrie Type B
 * Vickers No.6 Monoplane
 * Vickers No.7 Monoplane
 * Vickers Boxkite School Biplane

Gnome 14 Omega-Omega

 * Bristol Gordon England G.E.2
 * Coventry Ordnance Works Biplane 10
 * Nieuport Monoplane
 * Short S.41 Tractor Biplane
 * Short S.57 Seaplane
 * Short S.64 Folder Seaplane
 * Short S.74 Admiralty Seaplane

Engines on display

 * A preserved Gnome 7 Omega engine is on public display at the Royal Air Force Museum London.
 * Another example, the very first Gnome rotary engine ever built, is on display at the National Air and Space Museum, Washington, D.C.
 * A restored Omega is on display at the New England Air Museum, Windsor Locks, CT.