Aerospace Engines A to Z
Aerospace Engines A to Z

Updated: 27-Jul-2021

During WWI, Rapp Motorenwerke in Munich built two in-line six-cylinder engines, 125 and 150 CV, and also 4-cylinders that gave 100 CV.

Rapp, 150 CV
“Rapp, 150 CV”

-The cylinders were liquid cooled, and joined two by two.

Rapp, V8, front view
“Rapp, V8”

-This company made larger engines such as the V8 giving 200 CV at 1,350 rpm with the cylinder construction system based on the six-cylinder.

-There were also a 140 CV V8 and a 300 CV V12.

-Both Rapp and its dependencies were the starting base of BMW in WWI.

-In fact, BMW was founded by Karl Friedrich Rapp.

-Rapp Motorenwerke was the predecessor of the BMW. It was located in Munich.

-We achieved a better view of the 150 CV six-cylinder Rapp engine.

Rapp de 150 CV
“Rapp de 150 CV”

From Appendix 6: The company was founded in 1913 by Karl Rapp, and it was known exactly as "Rapp Motoren Werke Munchen". During WWI it built engines under license from Austro-Daimler.

Rapp logo
“Rapp logo”

-Karl Rapp would retire due to a serious illness and was replaced by Franz Josef Popp, a senior position at Austro-Daimler.

-In 1917 Franz J. Popp changed the name to Bayerische Motoren Werke, that is, BMW began to act under this name in 1918.

First BMW logo
“First BMW logo”

Inspiration for the BMW logo
“Inspiration for the BMW logo”

-Thanks to the technician Max Friz, the engine was made that was very successful and even won a height record, the BMW IIIa.

-This engine displaced 19 liters and gave 226 CV, normally reaching 6,000 meters in height. To conquer the height record, it reached 9,620 meters.

BMW IIIa
“BMW IIIa”

-See also Flottweg to know the beginnings of BMW.

From Appendix 9: We located a 4-cylinder in-line Rapp engine with 100 CV. See main text.

Rapp engine, 100 CV
“Rapp engine, 100 CV”

-Munich factory pre-WWI and predecessor of BMW that acquired it.

-In the main text the four-cylinder engine model does not appear in a photo. Now we have one that an appreciated reader has sent us.

RAPP 4-cylinder engine, 100 CV
“RAPP 4-cylinder engine, 100 CV”

From Appendix 12: View of the Rapp 8-cylinder V-engine.

Rapp V8 engine, 200 CV
“Rapp V8 engine, 200 CV”

-Predecessor of BMW. First a brand emblem.

RAPP's "chess horse" symbol
"RAPP's chess-horse symbol"

In-line 6-cylinder, 150 CV
“In-line 6-cylinder, 150 CV”

Rapp 150 CV engine, rear view
“Rapp 150 CV engine, rear view”

-From Flugsport magazine a Rapp engine (BMW predecessor)

Rapp V-engine
“Rapp V-engine”

Engines of RAPP

Model: 4 cyl. in-line, 100 CV.

Arquitecture: 4-cylinder In-line
Cooling: Liquid
Total Displacement:
Bore / Stroke:
Power: 100 CV
Weight:

Other details:
The Rapp 100 CV engine

"The Rapp 100 CV engine"

Model: 6 cyl. in-line, 125 CV.

Arquitecture: In-line
Cooling: Liquid
Total Displacement:
Bore / Stroke:
Power: 125 CV
Weight:

Other details:
Model: 6 cyl. in-line, 150 CV.

Arquitecture: 6-cylinder In-line
Cooling: Liquid
Total Displacement:
Bore / Stroke:
Power: 150 CV
Weight:

Other details:
Rapp, 150 CV

"Rapp, 150 CV"

Model: V12, 300 HP

Arquitecture: 12-cylinder V-Engine
Cooling: Liquid
Total Displacement:
Bore / Stroke:
Power: 300 CV
Weight:

Other details:
Model: V8, 140 HP

Arquitecture: 8-cylinder V-Engine
Cooling: Liquid
Total Displacement:
Bore / Stroke:
Power: 140 CV
Weight:

Other details:
Model: V8, 200 CV

Arquitecture: 8-cylinder V-Engine
Cooling: Liquid
Total Displacement:
Bore / Stroke:
Power: 200 CV
Weight:

Other details:
RAPP V8 engine, 200 CV

"RAPP V8 engine, 200 CV"