c 1913 The ABC
radial aero engines of the World War I period were extremely advanced for their time, and were initially thought to be very promising indeed. Unfortunately they were all more or less plagued by problems – and although a number of types for the
Royal Air Force were designed around ABC engines (especially the ill-fated
Dragonfly) none saw squadron service with the RAF. ABC also made a large number of engines for electrical generators and other purposes – mostly with a
flat twin cylinder layout and unusual exhaust-over-inlet valve configuration. These smaller ABC engines have the distinction of being possibly the first airborne
APUs- the
Coastal class blimp (first flown in 1916) had a 1.5-horsepower unit installed to provide electricity for the onboard wireless set, whilst a similar engine was used to power the searchlight of the sole
Supermarine Nighthawk '
Zeppelin killer' of 1917.
Aero engines engine •
ABC 6 hp Midge (1951) National Archives Kew (AIR 10/7172) •
ABC 8 hp (1923) •
ABC 30 hp (1912) •
ABC 60 hp (1912) •
ABC 100 hp (1912) •
ABC Dragonfly (1918) •
ABC Gadfly (1920) •
ABC Gnat (1916) •
ABC Mosquito (1916) •
ABC Hornet (1929) •
ABC Scorpion (1923) •
ABC Wasp (1918)
Aircraft •
ABC Robin Automotive •
ABC (1920 automobile) •
ABC Supersports •
ABC Skootamota •
ABC motorcycles ==See also==