Guiberson A-1020

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

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[1]
First run	January 1940[2]
Major applications	Stinson Reliant

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-1020s and T-1020s 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

• M3 Stuart light tank - T-1020^[2]
• Stinson Reliant - A-1020^[2]
• Waco 10 - A-980^[2]

Surviving engines

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

• There is a T-1020 on display at the New England Air Museum, Bradley International Airport, Windsor Locks, CT.^[7]

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/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

See also

• Clerget 9A
• Packard DR-980

References

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

Further reading

• "The Guiberson Aero Diesel", Flight, p. 9, 2 January 1941
• TM9-1727 T-1020 Ordinance Maintenance Manual