Hirth
Encyclopedia
Göbler-Hirthmotoren GmbH is an aircraft engine
manufacturer based in Benningen
, Germany
.
The company was founded by Hellmuth Hirth
in 1920 as Hellmuth Hirth Versuchsbau, renamed Leichtmetall-Werke GmbH and finally Elektronmetall GmbH as a manufacturer of light alloy engine components, including parts for aircraft engine components. In 1927, Hirth separated this part of the business, renaming it as Hirth Motoren GmbH (the remainder becoming Mahle GmbH
). The first Hirth Motoren GmbH engine, the 4-cylinder inverted in-line HM 60, was released in 1931 and was fairly successful. An upgrade in the form of the HM 60R improved efficiency, and was followed by 6, 8 and 12-cylinder versions based on the same machinery. Over the next decade, Hirth became one of Germany's leading aero engine manufacturers.
Following Hirth's death in an aircraft crash in 1938, the Reichsluftfahrtministerium ("Reich aviation ministry") nationalised the company, and in 1941 it was merged with Heinkel
to make Heinkel-Hirth. Although the existing engine series were continued, Heinkel also used the Hirth production facilities as a basis for work by Hans von Ohain
on a series of jet engine
s as well, although for various reasons none was widely used.
Following World War II
, this merger was dissolved, and Hirth was independent once again. Because of the prohibitions on German aviation during the Allied occupation, Hirth manufactured small stationary engine
s, as well as motors for snowmobile
s. Eventually, Hirth returned to aircraft engine manufacturing in 1965, but in 1974 went into voluntary liquidation. The company was acquired by Hans Göbler, who returned it to making small two-stroke
engines.
The beginnings of ultralight aviation in the 1980s created another opportunity to re-enter Hirth's original marketplace, and the company has been a notable builder of engines for these aircraft ever since.
Aircraft engine
An aircraft engine is the component of the propulsion system for an aircraft that generates mechanical power. Aircraft engines are almost always either lightweight piston engines or gas turbines...
manufacturer based in Benningen
Benningen
Benningen is a municipality in the district of Unterallgäu in Bavaria, Germany....
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
The company was founded by Hellmuth Hirth
Hellmuth Hirth
Hellmuth Hirth was a German engineer who founded the Mahle GmbH and Hirth companies, manufacturing engine components and complete aircraft engines respectively.Hirth was born in Heilbronn, the son of an engineer and tool-maker...
in 1920 as Hellmuth Hirth Versuchsbau, renamed Leichtmetall-Werke GmbH and finally Elektronmetall GmbH as a manufacturer of light alloy engine components, including parts for aircraft engine components. In 1927, Hirth separated this part of the business, renaming it as Hirth Motoren GmbH (the remainder becoming Mahle GmbH
Mahle GmbH
Mahle GmbH is one of the 30 largest automotive suppliers worldwide. As the leading manufacturer of components and systems for combustion engines and its periphery, the Mahle Group is among the top three systems suppliers worldwide for piston systems, cylinder components, valve train systems, air...
). The first Hirth Motoren GmbH engine, the 4-cylinder inverted in-line HM 60, was released in 1931 and was fairly successful. An upgrade in the form of the HM 60R improved efficiency, and was followed by 6, 8 and 12-cylinder versions based on the same machinery. Over the next decade, Hirth became one of Germany's leading aero engine manufacturers.
Following Hirth's death in an aircraft crash in 1938, the Reichsluftfahrtministerium ("Reich aviation ministry") nationalised the company, and in 1941 it was merged with Heinkel
Heinkel
Heinkel Flugzeugwerke was a German aircraft manufacturing company founded by and named after Ernst Heinkel. It is noted for producing bomber aircraft for the Luftwaffe in World War II and for important contributions to high-speed flight.-History:...
to make Heinkel-Hirth. Although the existing engine series were continued, Heinkel also used the Hirth production facilities as a basis for work by Hans von Ohain
Hans von Ohain
Hans Joachim Pabst von Ohain was a German engineer, one of the inventors of jet propulsion.Frank Whittle, who patented in 1930 in the United Kingdom, and Hans von Ohain, who patented in 1936 in Germany, developed the concept independently during the late 1930s...
on a series of jet engine
Jet engine
A jet engine is a reaction engine that discharges a fast moving jet to generate thrust by jet propulsion and in accordance with Newton's laws of motion. This broad definition of jet engines includes turbojets, turbofans, rockets, ramjets, pulse jets...
s as well, although for various reasons none was widely used.
Following World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, this merger was dissolved, and Hirth was independent once again. Because of the prohibitions on German aviation during the Allied occupation, Hirth manufactured small stationary engine
Stationary engine
A stationary engine is an engine whose framework does not move. It is normally used not to propel a vehicle but to drive a piece of immobile equipment such as a pump or power tool. They may be powered by steam; or oil-burning or internal combustion engines....
s, as well as motors for snowmobile
Snowmobile
A snowmobile, also known in some places as a snowmachine, or sled,is a land vehicle for winter travel on snow. Designed to be operated on snow and ice, they require no road or trail. Design variations enable some machines to operate in deep snow or forests; most are used on open terrain, including...
s. Eventually, Hirth returned to aircraft engine manufacturing in 1965, but in 1974 went into voluntary liquidation. The company was acquired by Hans Göbler, who returned it to making small two-stroke
Two-stroke cycle
A two-stroke engine is an internal combustion engine that completes the process cycle in one revolution of the crankshaft...
engines.
The beginnings of ultralight aviation in the 1980s created another opportunity to re-enter Hirth's original marketplace, and the company has been a notable builder of engines for these aircraft ever since.
Piston
- Hirth HM 60 - 4-cylinder inverted air-cooled inline aircraft engine, 80 hp
- Hirth HM 500 - 4-cylinder air-cooled inverted inline,
- Hirth HM 501 - 4-cylinder air-cooled inverted inline,
- Hirth HM 504 - 4-cylinder air-cooled inverted inline, 105 hp
- Hirth HM 506 - 6-cylinder air-cooled inverted inline, 165 hp
- Hirth HM 508 - 8-cylinder air-cooled inverted-V, 280 hp
- Hirth HM 512 - 12-cylinder air-cooled inverted-V, 400 hp
- Hirth HM 515 - 4-cylinder air-cooled inverted inline, 60 hp
- Hirth F-23Hirth F-23-External links:*...
- 2-cylinder two stroke 50 hp - Hirth F-30Hirth F-30|-Specifications :-See also:-External links:**...
- 4-cylinder two stroke 110 hp - Hirth F-33Hirth F-33|-Specifications :-External links:*...
- 1-cylinder two stroke 28 hp - Hirth F-36Hirth F-36-External links:*...
- 1-cylinder two stroke 15 hp - Hirth F-102 - 2-cylinder two stroke 26 hp
- Hirth F-263 - 2-cylinder two stroke 31 hp
- Hirth 2702Hirth 2702-External links:**...
- 2-cylinder two stroke 40 hp - Hirth 2703 - 2-cylinder two stroke 55 hp
- Hirth 2704Hirth 2704|2706-Specifications :-External links:**...
- 2-cylinder two stroke 53 hp - Hirth 2706 - 2-cylinder two stroke 65 hp
- Hirth 3202Hirth 3202-External links:**...
- 2-cylinder two stroke 55 hp - Hirth 3203 - 2-cylinder two stroke 65 hp
- Hirth 3502Hirth 3502-External links:**...
- 2-cylinder two stroke 60 hp - Hirth 3503 - 2-cylinder two stroke 70 hp
- Hirth 3701 - 3-cylinder two stroke 100 hp
Turbine
- Heinkel HeS 1Heinkel HeS 1The Heinkel HeS 1 was Germany's first jet engine, which was a stationary test item that ran on hydrogen.-History:In 1933, Hans von Ohain wrote his PhD thesis at the University of Göttingen on the topic of an optical microphone that could be used to record sound directly to film. Siemens bought the...
- the first operational jet engine - Heinkel HeS 3Heinkel HeS 3The Heinkel HeS 3 was the world's first operational jet engine to power an aircraft. Designed by Hans von Ohain while working at Heinkel, the engine first flew as the primary power of the Heinkel He 178, piloted by Erich Warsitz on 27 August 1939...
- the first jet engine to fly - Heinkel-Hirth HeS 30 - aka 006, perhaps the best early German design, cancelled for what turned out to be very bad reasons
- Heinkel-Hirth HeS 40 - "constant volume" combustion engine
- Heinkel-Hirth HeS 50 - ducted-fan unit for long-duration flight
- Heinkel-Hirth HeS 60 - HeS 50 with an additional turbine stage
- Heinkel-Hirth HeS 011 - advanced twin-spool design, not completed