| This is a photo of a 1909 Gnome rotary engine
in a Blériot.
This seven cylinder engine produces 70 hp. Between the engine and
prop is a steel plate known sometimes as the "spider," plate. It
is fitted to the front of the fuselage and contains the front engine
support
bearing. My guess is, early airframes were not strong enough to
support
the engine entirely on the rear mount. Later aircraft design with
strong bulkheads made it possible to hang the engine solely on the rear
mount, thus dispensing with the spider plate. |
