Guiberson A-1020

Guiberson A-1020
	A T-1020 variant on display
Type	Diesel radial engine
National origin	United States of America
Manufacturer	Guiberson Diesel Engine Company
Designed by	Fred A. Thaheld[1]
First run	January 1940[2]
Major applications	Stinson Reliant
Developed from	Guiberson A-980

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.[2]

Operational history

Production A-1020's and T-1020's were designed and sold by Guiberson and produced by Buda Engine Co.[2][3]

Variants

Guiberson A-918: Rated at 185 hp (138 kW) - one of the initial development models for use on aircraft.[4][5]
Guiberson A-980: Rated at 210 hp (160 kW) - one of the initial development models for use on aircraft.[2][4]
Guiberson A-1020: Rated at 310 hp (230 kW) - production engines for aircraft use.[2][5]
Guiberson T-1020: Rated at 250 hp (190 kW) - for use in light tanks such as the M-3 Stuart [2][6][5]

Applications

Waco 10 - A-980[2]
Stinson Reliant - A-1020[2]
M-3 Stuart light tank - T-1020[2]

Survivors

A Guiberson A-1020 Diesel radial engine at the Hiller Aviation Museum - San Carlos, California

The EAA AirVenture Museum in Oshkosh, Wisconsin has a T-1020 on display.
There is a T-1020 on display at the New England Air Museum, Bradley International Airport, Windsor Locks, CT.[7]
Mustang Airport in Galt, California has three running T-1020's on display.
There is a Guiberson T-1020 on display at the Western North Carolina Air Museum in Hendersonsonville, NC
Jack Heemsoth, of Marshall, MI owns a running T-1020 and runs and displays it at local shows on a regular basis in the summers.
Timeless Aero located in Grand Prairie, TX owns and is the process of returning to service a T-1020. A few pieces remain that the owner, a certified airframe and powerplant mechanic with an inspection authorization and mechanical engineer, will have to design and fabricate.
Antique Gas and Steam Engine Museum, Vista, California is returning to service a T-1020. They also have two other T-1020 they plan to restore.

Specifications (A-1020)

Data from Aircraft Diesels: Chapter 3 - The Guiberson Diesel[2][5]

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/kW/h) at 2,150 rpm; 0.382 lb/hp/h (0.232 kg/kW/h) at cruising speed
Oil consumption: 0.02 lb/hp/h (0.012 kg/kW/h) 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