Gnome-Rhône 14N

The Gnome-Rhône 14N was a 14-cylinder two-row air-cooled radial engine designed and manufactured by Gnome-Rhône just before the start of World War II. A development of the Gnome-Rhône 14K, the 14N was used on several French and even one German aircraft.

Design and development

The 14K's reliability was poor, so Gnome-Rhône carried out major redesign, using different materials for the pistons and valves, and enlarging the cooling fins to increase surface area by 39%.

The 14N was introduced in 1937 and was quickly installed on several aircraft models. In 1939, minor improvements allowed Gnome-Rhône to increase the compression ratio from 6.1:1 to 6.8:1, which increased power.

The 14N was further developed into the Gnome-Rhône 14R featuring a 2-stage supercharger, but this type was not widely used until after World War II as production of improved engines was restricted by the armistice with Germany.

Variants

Data from:Aircraft engines of the World 1945,^[1] Aircraft engines of the World 1946^[2]

14N-2: Left hand (LH) rotation, 780 kW (1,050 hp)
14N-3: Right hand (RH) rotation version of N-2

14N-10: LH rotation, 680 kW (910 hp)
14N-11: RH rotation version of N-10

14N-16: LH rotation, 697 kW (935 hp)
14N-17: RH rotation version of N-16

14N-20: LH rotation, 846 kW (1,135 hp)
14N-21: RH rotation version of N-20

14N-44: LH rotation, 780 kW (1,050 hp)
14N-45: RH rotation version of N-44

14N-48: LH rotation, 880 kW (1,180 hp)
14N-49: RH rotation version of N-48

14N-50: LH rotation, 1,000 kW (1,400 hp)

14N-54: LH rotation, 930 kW (1,250 hp)
14N-55: RH rotation version of N-54

14N-58: LH rotation, 880 kW (1,180 hp)
14N-59: RH rotation version of N-58

Applications

Amiot 351 (1 × 14N-38 + 1 × 14N-39)
Amiot 354 (1 × 14N-48 + 1 × 14N-49)
Bloch MB.131 (1 × 14N-10 + 1 × 14N-11)
Bloch MB.135 (2 × 14M-4 + 2 × 14M-5)
Bloch MB.150 (14N-7)
Bloch MB.151 (14N-35)
Bloch MB.152 (14N-25)
Bloch MB.155 (14N-49)
Bloch MB.161 (2 × 14N-38 + 2 × 14N-39)
Bloch MB.170 (2 × 14N-6)
Bloch MB.174 (2 × 14N-49)
Bloch MB.175 (2 × 14N-48)
Bloch MB.210 (1 × 14N-10 + 1 × 14N-11)
Bloch MB.220 (1 × 14N-16 + 1 × 14N-17)
Bloch MB.300 Pacifique (2 × 14N-16 + 1 × 14N-17)
Dewoitine D.342 (2 × 14N-16 + 1 × 14N-17)
Farman F.222.2 (4 × 14N-11)
Farman F.224 (4 × 14N-1)
Latécoère 611 (prototype) (2 × 14N-30 +2 × 14N-31 )
Lioré et Olivier LeO 451 (14N-48 + 14N-49
or 14N-38 + 14N-39 or 14N-46 + 14N-47)
Sud-Est SE.161 Languedoc (2 × 14N-44 + 2 × 14N-45 )
Messerschmitt Me 323 (various)
Koolhoven F.K.58A (14N-16)
PZL P.24F and G (14N-7)
PZL P.24H (14N-21)
PZL.43 (14N-1)
SNCAO CAO.700 (4 × 14N-49)
SNCASE SE.100 (1 × 14N-20 + 1 × 14N-21)

Specifications (14N-48)

Data from Aircraft engines of the World 1945^[1]

General characteristics

Type: Fourteen-cylinder two-row air-cooled piston engine
Bore: 146 mm (5.75 in)
Stroke: 165 mm (6.50 in)
Displacement: 38.67 L (2,360 cu in)
Length: 1,480 mm (58.27 in)
Diameter: 1,290 mm (50.79 in)
Dry weight: 620 kg (1,370 lb)

Components

Valvetrain: Two inlet and two exhaust overhead valves per cylinder
Supercharger: Single-stage single-speed centrifugal type supercharger
Fuel system: Stromberg carburetor
Fuel type: 87 octane rating gasoline
Oil system: Pressure fed at 480 kPa (70 psi)
Cooling system: Air-cooled
Reduction gear: 0.5:1 planetary reduction gearing

Performance

Power output:
Take-off: 880 kW (1,180 hp) at 2,650 rpm
Military: 790 kW (1,060 hp) at 2,400 rpm at 3,900 m (12,800 ft)
Cruise: 630 kW (850 hp) at 2,100 rpm at 3,900 m (12,800 ft)
Specific power: 22.45 kW/L (0.49 hp/in³)
Compression ratio: 6.8:1
Power-to-weight ratio: 1.4 kW/kg (0.85 hp/lb)

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gnome-Rhône 14N.

Citations

^ a b Wilkinson, Paul H. (1945). Aircraft engines of the World 1945 (3rd ed.). -New York: Paul H. Wilkinson. p. 235.
^ Wilkinson, Paul H. (1946). Aircraft engines of the World 1946 (4th ed.). London: Sir Isaac Pitman & Sons Ltd.

Bibliography

Danel, Raymond and Cuny, Jean. L'aviation française de bombardement et de renseignement 1918-1940 Docavia n°12, Editions Larivière