Clement V-2 Engine
date: label: Date
content: 1903
name: label: Manufacturer
content: Clement, France
notes: label: Physical Description
content: Type: Reciprocating, 2 cylinders, air-cooled
label: Physical Description
content: Power rating: 2.237 kW (3 hp) at 1,000 rpm
label: Physical Description
content: Displacement: 0.36 L (21.8 cu in)
label: Physical Description
content: Bore and Stroke: 5.72cm (2.25 in.) x 6.99 cm (2.75 in.)
label: Physical Description
content: Weight: 12.0 kg (26.4 lb)
label: Summary
content: This French engine powered the Santos-Dumont Airship No. 9 in 1903. It performed two tasks: propulsion and the operation of a belt driven blower to pressurize the airship's envelope. Although designed for the Clement Autocyclette motorcycle, it was easily converted to aeronautical use because of its light weight and adequate power.
label: Summary
content: Alberto Santos-Dumont, a wealthy Brazilian based in Paris, first became famous by flying his dirigible No. 6 around the Eiffel Tower in 1901 and, in 1906, made the first airplane flight in Europe. This artifact was of special interest because it had "connected with it the smallest motor which has ever been successfully applied to a dirigible balloon." From the accession file, it appears that Airship No. 9 was to be flown at an exhibition in St. Louis in 1904, but was vandalized and not flown again.
label: Alternate Name
content: Clement V-2 Engine
label: Key Accomplishment(s)
content: Powered Airship No. 9
label: Brief Description
content: This French engine powered Airship No. 9, built by Brazilian aviation pioneer Alberto Santos-Dumont, in 1903. It provided propulsion and the operation of a belt driven blower to pressurize the airship's envelope.
place: label: Country of Origin
content: France
setName: label: See more items in
content: National Air and Space Museum Collection
label: Location
content: National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC
label: Exhibition
content: Early Flight
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Gift of Edward C. Boyce
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Air and Space Museum
identifier: label: Inventory Number
content: A19080001000
objectType: label: Type
content: PROPULSION-Reciprocating & Rotary
objectRights: label: Restrictions & Rights
content: CC0
physicalDescription: label: Materials
content: Aluminum alloys, iron alloys, copper alloys, wood, leather
label: Dimensions
content: Overall: 2 ft. 9 in. × 2 ft. 3 in. × 2 ft. 9 in. (83.8 × 68.6 × 83.8cm)