Side Valve Engines

The Zulu

During 1915 the Zulu was developed. It was identical to the Crusader, except that the bore was increased from 90mm to 100mm. 


A Coastal Airship.

 The reduction gear ratio was also changed, allowing the engine to develop 160h.p. at 2000r.p.m. The Zulu was designed to replace the Crusader in existing aircraft, although one was fitted to a new Avro 523 bomber.

Aircraft Fitted with the Zulu

Aircraft Make and Type Number of Engines Ordered
Crusader Replacements:
Short 827 seaplane unknown
Coastal Class Airship unknown
New Engine:
Avro 523 bomber 1

 

The Gurkha

The Gurkha was developed at the same time as the Zulu and was intended as a replacement for the Mohawk. Unlike the Zulu however, most of the engines were ordered for new aircraft. The Gurkha was identical to the Mohawk except that the bore was increased from 90mm to 100 mm and the reduction gear was reduced from 2:1 to 1.86:1. This allowed the engine to develop 240h.p. at 2,000r.p.m. Production ended in October 1916, when the higher powered Cossack had been developed.

Aircraft Fitted with the Gurkha

Aircraft Make and Type Number of Engines Ordered
Short 184 seaplane 54
15
Beardmore WB.1 bomber 1
Mohawk Replacements:
Short 184 seaplane 5

A Ghurkha engine is preserved at the Fleet Air Arm Museum, in Yeovilton. It is the only surviving Sunbeam side-valve engine.

Return to the Mohawk Return to Sunbeam Return to the Aircraft Section Proceed to the Cossack and Nubian