Introduction to the 2021-V14 edition

By RMV (Ricardo Miguel Vidal) from L ́Aeroteca

-There are many books devoted to aviation engine technics and operation. Nearly always they add some chapters about engines with their descriptions and we get the impression that these are the only ones traveling in the sky.

-More than 55 years of saving information surprised me with more than 4050 collected and confirmed brands.

-There are still to include doubtful names and many unidentified photographs like those of the UFE (Unidentified Flying Engine) section.

-It all started when choosing profession and being eager for knowledge. On a visit to Castells' Bookshop in Barcelona I bought a book about propulsion motors titled "A Chorro" by Kalnin-Laborie, which I constantly re-read: there I met the "Nene", " Derwent "," Goblin ", ATAR, Metrovick, etc.

-There are brands with dozens of models each, others with few models, and even individual manufacturers. Besides there are adaptations from land vehicle engines to aviation and vice versa.

-Curiously, unlike other sectors, from the start to the third quarter of last century, many aviation engines are better known by a name than by their technical nomenclature, and I say "Name" and not "Brand". So we see for example that Rolls-Royce engines are known as Eagle, Peregrine, Merlin, Tyne, Dart, etc.

-Sometimes groups of engines are named after birds, rivers, cats, mythical gods, ethnicities, reptiles, etc. by their Manufacturers.

-In this extensive relation we refer to the existence of all of them, without tiring with technical data that most of us already have. The important thing is not to lose the memory of so much work done by people and companies at a very high level, as we will see.

-They appear by brand in alphabetical order, summarized and in short, for not making this publication impracticable, so it never could come out. Yet, with a simple glance at the index, we can guess that the work has been immense and it is going to be very extensive.

-The format is not the usual one used for known books and manuals: It is a LIVING publication. It is designed with replaceable and identified pages to support corrections and additions, either from the author or from the always welcome reader's suggestions and contributions, for present and future accuracy of this work.

-Apart from new engine appearances and/or data, there are Brand mergers and separations, "Joint Ventures" or collaborations between brands, to which must be added the disolution of countries such as Russia, Czechoslovakia, etc. giving new engine and brand names to the same already known engines.

-For example, in the case of Russia, we were used to know engines by the Design Office where they came from, moreover, they had the name of their Design Bureau (OKB) Chief designer like Kuznetsov, Tumanskii, Ivtchenko, Mikulin, etc.

-Certainly, not describing them both by their previous and new reference would lend itself to confusion. Besides, using the full name of Aleksandr Aleksandrovich Mikulin or Aleksandr Georgievich Ivtchenko, complicated things even more, so, as an exception, on the first page they appear with their initials as A.A. Mikulin and A.G. Ivtchenko, where they are directly referred to "Mikulin" and "Ivtchenko". This is the way how Lotarev, Shvetsov, Klimov, Soloviev, Lyulka and a long list of amazing designers appear similarly thereafter.

-We know that the Design Offices (OKB, Experimental Design Bureau), for example in the case of present Samara, assigned the engine manufacture, development and testing to a Manufacturer (SKBM). Finally it passes to production organizations, (SMPO) in the case of Samara. Previously they were produced in the GAZ factories or State Aviation Factory (GAZ #19, GAZ #5, etc.). Marketing also goes through other channels.

-Such a recognition of engine designers no longer exists today, as brands became known more abstractly by Saturn, Salyut, Mars, etc ..

-It is decided therefore that the engines will be mentioned regarding their various name changes. The reader can always trace them and have a crossed view of the vicissitudes that occurred.

-Each page is numbered and has an indication for the edition it belongs to, as well as for the latest update. Each group of pages, the way the 2003 edition was provisionally delivered, were inserted in a file or binder according to the reader's preferences. Some external stickers identified each volume.

-Later, since 2005, metal covers were already delivered with the four parts included in one volume only, very original indeed.

-This publication is not intended to be a deluxe edition, but a useful, readable and very informative work. The author calls for the reader's collaboration for new information. Once this information is checked, it may be included with the respective reference. So it will be a living document, a new experience.

-About fifteen years ago there already appeared a few pages of this document in the L'Aeroteca's catalog known as "La Gaceta Air Locomotion", and this aroused curiosity in a lot of people. It has always been of my interest to publish it entirely.

-Another detail is that in each footer there are explanatory notes, instructions, suggestions or curiosities about the subject that interests us.

-We are very grateful for the permits for the use of images that we have been applying for during these years in order to insert photos or details. In the footers (book version), we announce books (To learn more) containing this type of information. We also announce museums (To see more) where these engines are on display so we can get to know them better.

 -As we obtain new and better pictures, in successive revisions and editions we will replace them in the main text as required. Images that will be achieved by the author and those that will be received from collaborating readers.

-Many of the engines shown here have been cut out from complete aircraft photographs.

-Revisions or Appendices will appear as in the 2003, 2006/8, 2008/9, 2012/13, 2014/15, 2016 editions together with annexes dedicated to the exposure of UNIDENTIFIED engines or so-called UFEs (Unidentified Flying Engines), for which details and information is requested for inserting it into the main text.

-Another Annex, is a "descriptive toy" that relates engine names with the possible motives that inspired them.

Ricardo Miguel Vidal
to Marc and Lola

-RMV is a "Legacy Member" of the "Aircraft Engine Historical Society" (AEHS) in Alabama. And Ex-member of AMFI. USA.

-Supporting member of the PAC, "Parc Aeronautic de Catalunya". Ex Assoc. Friends of Aeronautics. Barcelona.

-Member of the AAMA, "Association of Friends of the Air Museum". Cuatro Vientos, Madrid.

-Benevolent Friend Member «Membre d’Honeur-Bienfaiteur» of AAMS "The Friends of the Safran Museum" (Antes Snecma).  Villaroche, Paris, France.

-"Flyer 2003" Award for the "Best Professional Aeronautical Career." (Spain). See Recognitions.

-Cross of Aeronautical Merit with White Distinction, to the entire career, and spreading of aeronautical culture, in 2007 (BOD no4, p.271). See Recognitions.

-DAR Member, Association of Republic Aviators. Catalan-North-Balear area. Barcelona.

-AHA member, Historical Automotive Studies Association. (Former Hispano-Suiza / Pegasus Employees). Barcelona.

-EAE Association member "Elizalde's Apprentice School" (at that time ENMASA-ITP), Barcelona,

-See the author's Blog:
<aerospace engines.blogspot.com>