ERCO IL-116

IL-116
	Preserved ERCO IL-116 4-cylinder engine.
Type	Piston inline aero-engine
Manufacturer	Engineering and Research Corporation
First run	1939
Major applications	ERCO Ercoupe
Number built	3

The ERCO IL-116 was an American inline aircraft engine designed and built in the late 1930s. The type was not placed into series production due to competition from cheaper engines.

Design and development[]

In late 1938, the Engineering and Research Corporation (ERCO) searched unsuccessfully for a suitable engine for its new "safe" airplane, the Ercoupe. ERCO hired , former engineer in charge of small engine design at Continental Motors, to design a new engine. He came up with the inverted, in-line IL-116, which provided good pilot visibility and enhanced aircraft streamlining.

ERCO installed the IL-116 in the prototype in 1939. The engine performed well, but ERCO discontinued it when Continental introduced the Continental A65 engine in 1940, which generated comparable horsepower at half the cost. ERCO manufactured parts for six IL-116s but only three were built.

Engines on display[]

An ERCO IL-116, believed to be the last remaining engine, is on display at the National Air and Space Museum.^[1]

Specifications (IL-116)[]

General characteristics

Type: 4-cylinder air-cooled inverted inline aircraft piston engine
Displacement: 116 in³ (1.9 L)
Dry weight: 158 lb (71.7 kg)

Components

Valvetrain: One intake and one exhaust valve per cylinder, pushrod-actuated.
Fuel system: Updraft carburetor
Fuel type: 73 octane avgas
Oil system: Wet sump
Cooling system: Air-cooled

Performance

Power output: 65 hp (48.5 kW) at 3,500 RPM
Specific power: 0.56 hp/in³ (25.5 kW/L)
Power-to-weight ratio: 0.41 hp/lb (0.68 kW/kg)

References[]

Notes[]

^ NASM - ERCO I-L 116 Retrieved: July 29, 2009.

[1] NASM - ERCO I-L 116 Retrieved: July 29, 2009.

[1]