Question Answer Book Aircraft Piston Engines

Every practical aeroplane that has flown has been driven by an internal combustion engine. The first such engine, especially designed for aircraft operation, was built by Charles Manley, as assistant of legendary Langley in 1900. It was a five cylinder liquid cooled radial engine that developed 50 HP for a specific weight of about 3.6 ib per hp. The unsucessful trail of Langleys Aerodrome' spelt doom for this engine that was years ahead of its times.