Rover R-267-4LIA

Rover R-267-4LIA - (ATC 37) - 75hp

First built by: Michigan Aero Engine Company, Lansing, Mich

Side view of the R-267 from "Aerosphere's 1941 Modern Aircraft Engines" - Public Domain

Originally designed by Harold Morehouse, the engine was first manufactured by the Michigan Aero Engine Company from 1928 to 1932. In 1935 the rights to the L-267 were purchased by J. A. Roche. The rights were then purchased by the Babcock Aircraft Corporation in July, 1940 with plans to build and market the engines with the re-designation of R-267.

The R-267 was an inverted, four cylinder, in-line, air-cooled engine producing 75 horse-power and 1,975 revolutions-per-minute. With a dry weight of 232 pounds the Rover had a power to weight ratio of 1 horse-power to 3.1 pounds of engine weight. Cylinders and heads were made of cast aluminum-alloy with a 4.125 inch bore and 5 inch stroke. Fuel consumption was rated at .55 to .58 pounds an HP hour.

Lubrication was provided by a dry sump with gear type pumps. The engine was fitted with a Stromberg NAR-3 carberator and Scintilla PN-4DF magnetos. Total displacement of the engine was 267 cubic inches. Interestingly, this was to be the last in-line, inverted engine built for aviation.

This was the engine used in the LC-13 “Taube”, NC998W.

REFERENCES:

1.       Approved Type Certificate (ATC) No. 37 – Document for Roche’ Rover L267-4LIA

2.       “Florida Factory to Build Rover Aircraft Engine” – St. Petersburg Times, St. Petersburg, Florida – 24-Jul-1940 – Pg 7

3.       Aerosphere’s 1941 Modern Aircraft Engines – edited by Glenn D. Angle – Pg B-46

4.       City in the Forest; the story of Lansing – Birt Darling – Pg 232-233

5.       “Driggs Skylark: Rover Engine” – Vintage Airplane – Vol 10. No. 2 – Feb 1982 – Pg 7&8