Guiberson A-1020

Four-stroke diesel radial engine

A-1020 / T-1020

A T-1020 variant on display
Type	Diesel radial engine
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Guiberson Diesel Engine Company
Designer	Fred A. Thaheld
First run	January 1940
Major applications	Stinson Reliant

The Guiberson A-1020 is a four-stroke diesel radial engine developed for use in aircraft and tanks.

Design and development

Development of the Guiberson diesel engine started in the 1930s with the A-918 and A-980 which was first flown in 1931. It is a single-row direct drive nine-cylinder four-cycle engine.

Operational history

Production A-1020s and T-1020s were designed and sold by Guiberson and produced by Buda Engine Co.

Variants

Guiberson A-918: Rated at 185 hp (138 kW) - one of the initial development models for use on aircraft.
Guiberson A-980: Rated at 210 hp (160 kW) - one of the initial development models for use on aircraft.
Guiberson A-1020: Rated at 310 hp (230 kW) - production engines for aircraft use.
Guiberson T-1020: Rated at 250 hp (190 kW) - for use in light tanks such as the M-3 Stuart

Applications

M3 Stuart light tank - T-1020
Stinson Reliant - A-1020
Waco 10 - A-980

Surviving engines

There is a T-1020 on display at the New England Air Museum, Bradley International Airport, Windsor Locks, CT.

Specifications (A-1020)

Data from Aircraft Diesels: Chapter 3 - The Guiberson Diesel

General characteristics

Type: 9-cylinder air-cooled radial diesel piston engine
Bore: 5.125 in (130.18 mm)
Stroke: 5.5 in (139.70 mm)
Displacement: 1,021 cu in (16.73 L)
Length: 38.6 in (980 mm) including starter
Diameter: 47.125 in (1,197.0 mm)
Dry weight: 653 lb (296 kg)
Designer: F. A. Thaheld

Components

Valvetrain: two pushrod operated valves per cylinder, with de-compression device for hand-turning or free-wheeling.
Fuel system: Guiberson system fuel injection
Fuel type: Diesel Index No.50
Cooling system: Air-cooled
Reduction gear: Direct-drive
- Eclipse inertia starter or Coffman cartridge starter

Performance

Power output: 310 hp (230 kW), continuous at 2,150 rpm at sea level
Compression ratio: 15:1
Specific fuel consumption: 0.42 lb/(hp⋅h) (0.26 kg/kWh) at 2,150 rpm; 0.382 lb/(hp⋅h) (0.232 kg/kWh) at cruising speed
Oil consumption: 0.02 lb/(hp⋅h) (0.012 kg/kWh) at 2,150 rpm
Power-to-weight ratio: 0.475 hp/lb (0.781 kW/kg)
- BMEP 113 psi (780 kPa) at rated output

References

"Lightplane Diesel". Flying. July 1946.
^ Wilkinson, Paul H. "Aircraft Diesels: Chapter 3 - The Guiberson Diesel" (PDF). Aircraft Engine Historical Society. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
The Aeroplane, Volume 59.
^ Grey, C.G.; Bridgman, Leonard, eds. (1938). Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1938. London: Sampson Low, Marston & company, ltd. p. 86d.
^ Bridgman, Leonard, ed. (1947). Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1947. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Co. p. 67d.
Arthur William Judge. Aircraft engines, Volume 2.
Guiberson T-1020 Diesel Engine, New England Air Museum

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