Albisser Radial 4 Engine
date: label: Date
content: Circa 1909
name: label: Manufacturer
content: Henri L. Albisser, Rahway, New Jersey
notes: label: Physical Description
content: Type: Reciprocating, 4 cylinders, radial, air-cooled
label: Physical Description
content: Power rating: 33.6 kW (45 hp) at 2,000 rpm
label: Physical Description
content: Displacement: Not available
label: Physical Description
content: Bore and Stroke: Not available
label: Physical Description
content: Weight: 116 kg (256 lb)
label: Summary
content: This is one of the first U.S. air-cooled, radial aircraft engines, an original design, entirely hand built by Henri L. Albisser about 1909. It powered an aircraft that he also designed, built, and flew in Rahway, New Jersey at that time.
label: Summary
content: Before emigrating to the U.S. in 1905, Albisser was employed by the early French automobile manufacturer Peugot. He opened Rahway’s first garage, and kept busy assisting the town’s other four automobile owners. In 1908 he built and flew his first airplane, powered by a 2-cylinder, 9 kW (12 hp) engine and a 183 cm (6-ft) propeller. Seeking more performance, he built this engine the following year, with an aluminum crankcase and a 244 cm (8-ft) propeller, enabling him to fly as high as 183 m (600 ft) for as long as 10 minutes.
label: Summary
content: In 1920 Albisser joined Chrysler and assisted construction of the first Chrysler automobile. This artifact was later displayed in his own DeSoto automobile agency.
place: label: Country of Origin
content: United States of America
setName: label: See more items in
content: National Air and Space Museum Collection
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Gift of Robert and Roger Albisser and William J. Scott
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Air and Space Museum
identifier: label: Inventory Number
content: A19670023000
objectType: label: Type
content: PROPULSION-Reciprocating & Rotary
objectRights: label: Restrictions & Rights
content: CC0
physicalDescription: label: Materials
content: Cast iron, Wood, Aluminum, Steel, Rubber, Ceramic, Brass
label: Dimensions
content: Other: 4ft x 4ft 1 1/2in. x 5ft 1in. x 3ft 12in. x 2ft 12in. x 4ft 1 1/2in. (121.92 x 125.73 x 154.9 x 121.9 x 91.4 x 125.73cm)
label: Dimensions
content: Approximate (Weight on Stand): 160.6kg (354lb.)
label: Dimensions
content: Length 121.9 cm (48 in.), Width 125.7 cm (49.5 in.)