The SAME, but Different.....

xylstra · Nov 10, 2020

Digging deep here! For all you knowledgeable Engine Tech-Heads, this, a most obscure, little known aero-engine, the Motore d'aviazione a revolver - Tipo PLA 500 BFA
I want to discover more about the Italian SAME 'Revolver' axial aero-engine designed by the Cassani brothers. Don't have a lot, see these: (Attached drawings)
....... but hoping to find more, e.g. more drawings, pictures, bio history, magazine articles, test results and ultimate fate of the prototypes. Come on, all you Italian forum members, surely you must know the history of Italy's pre-war aviation technical development? Share it all, we want to know!
Although not aviation, don't hesitate to add their "Nautical" revolver engine, as well, which see: (Attached picture)

MiTasol · Nov 11, 2020

100 out of ten for a tough question.
It will be interesting to see what surfaces
Definitely watching this thread

brianwnz · Nov 12, 2020

There is quite a bit of stuff available at the SDF archives (it's a lot better if you speak Italian of course.....); drawings especially. There are also a few more modern articles in Italian magazines.
The B8/110 engine even survives and is on display....... My information is all basically internet derived from a distance, but I'd love to go and have a look one day.

Here is a brief synopsis from what I've gathered (and translated via Google):

Francesco Cassani was an Italian designer of naval aircraft, tractors, and engines prior to WWII; his diesel engines appear to have been barrel engines, of eight cylinders (16 pistons) using two swash-plates and sixteen cylinders (32 pistons) using what appears to be three swash-plates; he teamed up with baron Fassini (UTITA) initially, then Luigi Orlando (OTO - Orlando Brothers Shipyard in Livorno), before finally the work was taken on by IRI (Institute for Industrial Reconstruction)/Alfa Romeo (employing Cassani & his brother Eugenio); designation of engine initially appeared to be PLA 500 BFA (on drawings) and it appears this engine was ready for dyno testing by June 1940, Alfa Romeo had to test the unit as OTO didn't have the facilities; Regia Aeronautica ordered 3 engines, dependant on test bench results, for total of 1,650,000 lire, designating them SPICA SP.41 R.C. 25/45; relationships became strained at Alfa Romeo, as well as wartime production commitments & other engineers competing for limited facilities - Alfa Romeo abruptly cancelled the project and fired the Cassani brothers; they went on to start SAME tractors; Engine had eight cylinders of 100mm bore and 150mm stroke (total?) giving approx. 23 litre displacement, giving 500 CV at 1700rpm (no reduction gear); it appears later design was with reduction gear and 2-speed compressor and was to give 800 CV and intended to replace Alfa Romeo 126 & 128 engines in existing transport and bomber aircraft; plans and many details lost in company takeovers and bombing of OTO; surviving engine at SDF Archives/Museum in Treviglio, Italy. Taken from: "Il sogno infranto di Francesco Cassani", by Giovanni Masino, Ali Antiche 99.

Based on surviving drawings, the engines also appear to have been known as B8/110 & B16/110; archives of SAME/Deutz.

An engine was mounted in an aircraft {not stated what type} in June 1940 at OTO in La Spezia; Il Motore Diesel In Aviazione, La Manovella, March 2013, pg. 76-79.

Cassani constructed a diesel engine for a tractor in the mid-1920's, then designed and built a prototype {assumed diesel} to replace the old petrol engines of Fiat 18 BL Army trucks; he then deepens his diesel studies on behalf of UTITA - a subsidiary of SNIA Viscosa (a company that produced textile machines that wanted to diversify) - resulting in a second prototype diesel, 6-cyl, opposed piston, designed for boats; he also plans to create an 800hp "revolver" engine (barrel), using an inclined disc to transmit piston movement, due to light weight and high power/weight (1 CV/kg) it is suitable for aviation; doors open for military orders in 1937 due to an interview with General Valle, Minister of Air Force at time; after making a small scale model, work moves on to construction of three pre-series engines built by OTO (Odero Terni Orlando - later became OTO Melara) in La Spezia; BAF (Baron Alberto Fassini) appears on Cassani engine design, certifying the importance of the industrialist's commitment in Treviglio; Arturo Ciano (Uncle of Galeazzo) & Luigo Orlando (member of National Council) participate in official visit to Treviglio with three engineers in charge of attening the aviation tests; meanwhile Cassani had developed the injection pumps factory at Ardenza and is surprised by news of War; three days later a telegram from Air Force Inspectorate called for suspension of development, whose purpose was to mount on transport aircraft; a fe months later the department where the engines were built is destroyed in a bombing raid, ending Cassani's plan; Il Motore Diesel In Aviazione, La Manovella, March 2013, pg. 76-79.

Well, maybe it wasn't so brief after all