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Types of Aircraft Reciprocating Engines

All reciprocating engines, aircraft included, are identified by seven major design elements. Reciprocating engines, also known as combustion engines, will always contain cylinders, pistons, connecting rods, crankshafts, valves, spark plugs and cams, which are used to open and close the valves. The intake valve lets air iinto the cylinder, the air is compressed and fuel is added. Then the air-and-fuel mixture is ignited, driving the piston downward, and finally the burnt gases are expelled from the cylinder.

Radial
- Radial engines use a spoke-and-hub formation. Each cylinder points in its own direction around the circumference of a circle. Each piston on a radial engine is connected via a rod to a central crankshaft or hub. The most notable feature on a radial engine is the master rod, which provides the armature for all other rods to connect to and provides power to the hub or crankshaft.
Horizontally Opposed
- Horizontally opposed aircraft engines are some the most-used engines on the market today. In this configuration, the cylinders oppose each other. Generally two cylinders on opposite sides of the cylinder banks will fire at the same time. Horizontally opposed engines are easier to manage while in flight and are generally considered the most reliable of all reciprocating aircraft engines.
In-Line
- In-line engines were popular in World War II aircraft. The extreme power and turbocharging capabilities of in-line engines made them a good choice during wartime. In this type of engine, the cylinders are directly in a line. Depending on the number of cylinders, two, three or even four will fire at the same time. In-line engines are still used in modern automobiles and most often show up as four-cylinder engines on economy vehicles.

Aviation