Austro Daimler 6

Design and development

The first Austro-Daimler six-cylinder engine was designed by Dr-Ing Ferdinand Porsche to be an aircraft engine from the outset. Of high quality manufacture the Austro-Daimler was modestly rated at relatively low rpm, which gave the engine family a reputation for robustness and reliability.

Features of the Austro-Daimler included welded steel water jackets, (originally copper), seven main bearings and large diameter inclined inlet and exhaust valves opened by dual action push-pull rods and closed by spring pressure. The single-overhead cam valvetrain was driven from the crankshaft through the usual vertically-oriented shaft as the contemporary Mercedes D.III was, but the Austro-Daimler had its vertical camshaft drive system mounted at the front of the engine instead, and not the usual aft-end placement of other Central Powers straight-six "SOHC" liquid-cooled aircraft powerplants, like the Mercedes and BMW designs.

The Austro-Daimler inspired many imitators such as the Mercedes D.II, Benz Bz.IV, Beardmore, and Hiero 6. Modest availability of the Austro-Daimler engines forced some aircraft manufacturers to substitute Mercedes (the German Daimler company) engines in their aircraft, due to greater availability.

Variants

Data from:

Austro-Daimler 90 hp 6-cyl.

The original low capacity version developing 90 hp (67.11 kW), introduced in 1910.

Austro-Daimler 120 hp 6-cyl.

Up-rated with a capacity of 13.9 l (848.23 cu in), from 130 mm (5.12 in) bore and 175 mm (6.89 in) stroke, developing 120 hp (89.48 kW) at 1,200 rpm, introduced in 1911.

Austro-Daimler 160 hp 6-cyl.

developing 160 hp (119.31 kW), introduced in 1913.

Austro-Daimler 185 hp 6-cyl.

developing 185 hp (137.95 kW), introduced in 1916.

Austro-Daimler 200 hp 6-cyl.

Up-rated with a capacity of 15.03 l (917.19 cu in), from 135 mm (5.31 in) bore and 175 mm (6.89 in), developing 200 hp (149.14 kW) at 1,350 rpm, introduced in December 1916.

Austro-Daimler 210 hp 6-cyl.

210 hp (156.60 kW), introduced in late 1917.

Austro-Daimler 225 hp 6-cyl.

developing 225 hp (167.78 kW), introduced in 1918.

Applications

Albatros D.III (Austro-Hungarian version license built by O.E.F. A.G.)

Aviatik B.I

Aviatik B.II

Aviatik D.I

Hansa-Brandenburg C.I

Hansa-Brandenburg D.I

Lohner C.I

Lohner Type AA

General characteristics

Type: 6-cylinder liquid-cooled inline engine

Bore: 130 mm (5.12 in)

Stroke: 175 mm (6.89 in)

Displacement: 13.9 L (850.5 cu in)

Length: 1,690 mm (66.5 in)

Width: 520 mm (20.47 in)

Height: 1,040 mm (41 in)

Dry weight: 320 kg (705 lb)

Components

Fuel system: Carburetor

Performance

Power output: 120 hp at 1,200 RPM