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Gentlemen, for the record, the only liquid cooled reciprocating AVIATION engines being produced today are being manufactured by Rotax and Metalwork, AFAIK. I'm not sure if the latter has a type certificate from any civil aviation authority.
How many air cooled manufacturers are still in business (aviation)?
How many air cooled manufacturers are still in business (aviation)?
And when were they designed?
None of the aircraft engines, air-cooled or water-cooled, liked sub-zero temps. Without pre-heating, they wouldn't operate.If power levels were high enough, and evidently they were not, air cooled would seem to be a great benefit for extremely cold conditions.
How many Allied Axis engines froze?
If the modern guys scaled up, they might do better and might not ... they have forgotten a LOT of tribal knowledge about large piston engines because they aren't made and have't been made for 50+ years. Go look at an Allison V-1710 or a Merlin 1650 V-12. 4 valves per cylinder and made very close to 1 HP per cubic inch or 61.02 Hp per liter and better.
I can't think of even ONE modern engine that could do it except maybe a diesel ... and they were NOT the engines of choice in WWII. The ONLY reason we are flirting with diesels in aviation today is the cost of fuel. If it weren't that, nobody would bother with them at all except in trucks hauling freight and large boats and ships. They are good for good torque at low RPM at one speed for a long time ... hardly an aviation need.