The rotary engine was an early type of internal-combustion engine, usually designed with an odd number of cylinders per row in a radial configuration, in which the crankshaft remained stationary and the entire cylinder block with cylinders rotated around it. By nature it was an air-cooled type and perfect for early aviation subject that were designed to operate at altitudes below 12,000 ft.

“Le Rhône” was the name given to a series of rotary aircraft engines produced in France by “Société des Moteurs Le Rhône” and the successor company, “Gnome et Rhône”. They powered a number of military aircraft types of the First World War.

Although not powerful (the largest wartime version produced 130 horsepower 97 kW), they were dependable rotary engines. The Le Rhône 9 cylinder was a development of the Le Rhône 7 cylinder design. Examples of Le Rhône engines are on public display in aviation museums with several remaining airworthy, powering vintage aircraft types.

The Le Rhône 9J is a nine-cylinder rotary aircraft engine produced in France. Also known as the Le Rhône 110hp in a reference to its nominal power rating, the engine was fitted to a number of military aircraft types of the First World War. Le Rhône 9J engines were also produced under license in Great Britain. The horsepower output was usually 110hp nominally and in later designs 120-130hp maximum.

In common with other Le Rhône series engines, the 9J featured highly visible copper induction pipes and used a single push-pull rod to operate its two overhead valves per cylinder. The copper air induction manifold tubing's lower ends on the 110hp 9J attached to the crankcase along its rearward edge, as opposed to the lower 80hp 9C power-plant having its intake manifold lower ends along its crankcase's forward edge. The pushrods on the 80hp 9C were in the front of the motor and on all the 9J types they were at the rear.

Le Rhône 9Ja
(1916) 110hp (82 kW), nine-cylinder rotary engine 953 built at W.H. Allen Son & Co.

Le Rhône 9Jb
(1916) 130hp (97 kW), nine-cylinder rotary engine

Le Rhône 9Jby
(1916) 130hp (97 kW), nine-cylinder rotary engine

The Kit

The basic engine kit #4802 has

74 resin pieces
03 lengths and guages of wire
12 PE pieces

The advanced kit #4804 has additionally 8 resin parts for "assemby & repair trestle". This item was used in the shops to:

1. Assembly of new motor.
2. Effect repairs for damaged motors at the factory.

Note: When a motor needed major work it was shipped to one of several repair facilities. For the French this was often either at an aviation instruction center or the original parent factory.

It should be noted that the "operational test blocks" for these motors was very substantial wood block and metal tie down strapping with bolts. The framing supplied in the kit represents maintenance supports to work on the motor during overhauls. The motor would never be run up with it in these types of cradles / frames.

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