Hispano-Suiza A (Wright-Martin) V-8 Engine
date: label: Date
content: 1918
name: label: Designer
content: La Société Hispano-Suiza
label: Designer
content: Marc Birkigt
label: Manufacturer
content: Wright Aeronautical
notes: label: Physical Description
content: Type: Reciprocating, V-type, 8 cylinders, liquid-cooled
label: Physical Description
content: Power rating: 112 kW (150 hp) at 1,450 rpm
label: Physical Description
content: Displacement: 11.78 L (718.88 cu in.)
label: Physical Description
content: Bore and Stroke: 120 mm (4.72 in) x 130 mm (5.12 in)
label: Physical Description
content: Weight (dry): 202 kg (445 lb)
label: Summary
content: Hispano-Suiza engines were developed by Marc Birkigt, of Swiss origin, and first manufactured in Barcelona, Spain for use in automobiles. Hisso engines were very successful and featured innovative cast-aluminum cylinder construction with internal water passages. Increased demand for World War I, in particular, required licensing of Hisso aircraft engine manufacturing in France, England and the U.S. The Wright-Martin Aircraft Corporation, later the Wright Aeronautical Corporation, acquired the American rights and claimed improvements during further development.
label: Summary
content: In 1916, the Societe d'Exploitation des Materiels Hispano-Suiza of France began manufacturing Type A engines for the Spad fighter. Produced under license by Wright-Martin, this engine powered U.S. military training aircraft such as the Curtiss JN-4H.
label: Summary
content: .
place: label: Country of Origin
content: United States of America
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: World War I: The Birth of Military Aviation
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Transferred from the U.S. Navy
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Air and Space Museum
identifier: label: Inventory Number
content: A19710885000
objectType: label: Type
content: PROPULSION-Reciprocating & Rotary
objectRights: label: Restrictions & Rights
content: CC0
physicalDescription: label: Materials
content: Metal
label: Materials
content: Cadmium Plating
label: Dimensions
content: 3-D: 144 × 84.9 × 832cm (4 ft. 8 11/16 in. × 2 ft. 9 7/16 in. × 27 ft. 3 9/16 in.)
label: Dimensions
content: Support: 75 × 86 × 55.5cm (2 ft. 5 1/2 in. × 2 ft. 9 7/8 in. × 1 ft. 9 7/8 in.)