Skip to main content

Search

My Visit
Donate
Home Smithsonian Institution

Site Navigation

  • Visit
    • Museums and Zoo
    • Entry and Guidelines
    • Maps and Brochures
    • Dine and Shop
    • Accessibility
    • Visiting with Kids
    • Group Visits
      • Group Sales
  • What's On
    • Exhibitions
      • Current
      • Upcoming
      • Past
    • Online Events
    • All Events
    • IMAX & Planetarium
  • Explore
    • - Art & Design
    • - History & Culture
    • - Science & Nature
    • Collections
      • Open Access
    • Research Resources
      • Libraries
      • Archives
        • Smithsonian Institution Archives
        • Air and Space Museum
        • Anacostia Community Museum
        • American Art Museum
        • Archives of American Art
        • Archives of American Gardens
        • American History Museum
        • American Indian Museum
        • Asian Art Museum Archives
        • Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives, African Art
        • Hirshhorn Archive
        • National Anthropological Archives
        • National Portrait Gallery
        • Ralph Rinzler Archives, Folklife
        • Libraries' Special Collections
    • Podcasts
    • Stories
  • Learn
    • For Caregivers
    • For Educators
      • Art & Design Resources
      • Science & Nature Resources
      • Social Studies & Civics Resources
      • Professional Development
      • Events for Educators
      • Field Trips
    • For Students
    • For Academics
    • For Lifelong Learners
  • Support Us
    • Become a Member
    • Renew Membership
    • Make a Gift
    • Volunteer
      • Smithsonian Call Center
      • Ambassador Program
      • Museum Information Desk
      • Docent Programs
      • Behind-the-Scenes
      • Digital Volunteers
      • Participatory Science
  • About
    • Our Organization
      • Board of Regents
        • Members
        • Committees
        • Reading Room
        • Bylaws, Policies and Procedures
        • Schedules and Agendas
        • Meeting Minutes
        • Actions
        • Webcasts
        • Contact
      • Museums and Zoo
      • Research Centers
      • Cultural Centers
      • Education Centers
      • General Counsel
        • Legal History
        • Internships
        • Records Requests
          • Reading Room
        • Tort Claim
        • Subpoenas & Testimonies
        • Events
      • Office of Human Resources
        • Employee Benefits
        • How to Apply
        • Job Opportunities
        • Job Seekers with Disabilities
        • Frequently Asked Questions
        • SI Civil Program
        • Contact Us
      • EEO & Small Business
        • EEO Complaint Process
        • Individuals with Disabilities
        • Small Business Program
          • Doing Business with Us
          • Contracting Opportunities
          • Additional Resources
        • Special Emphasis Program
      • Sponsored Projects
        • Policies
          • Combating Trafficking in Persons
          • Animal Care and Use
          • Human Research
        • Reports
        • Internships
    • Our Leadership
    • Reports and Plans
      • Annual Reports
      • Metrics Dashboard
        • Dashboard Home
        • Virtual Smithsonian
        • Public Engagement
        • National Collections
        • Research
        • People & Operations
      • Strategic Plan
    • Newsdesk
      • News Releases
      • Media Contacts
      • Photos and Video
      • Media Kits
      • Fact Sheets
      • Visitor Stats
      • Secretary and Admin Bios
      • Filming Requests

Hirth 500-B1, Inverted In-line 4 Engine

National Air and Space Museum

Object Details

Manufacturer
Hirth-Motoren G.m.b.H.
Physical Description
Type: Reciprocating, 4 cylinders, In-line, Inverted, Air cooled
Power rating: 78.3 kW (105 hp) at 2,530 rpm
Displacement: 3.98 L (243 cu in.)
Bore and Stroke: 105 mm (4.128 in.) x 115 mm (4.52 in.)
Weight: 123.8 kg (273 lb)
Summary
Hellmuth Hirth was a famous pre-World War I aviator and an excellent engineer. With his brother, Dr. Albert Hirth, he developed an improved engine using roller bearings. Albert patented the Hirth coupling still used in many gas turbines. Hirth-Motoren G.m.b.H. of Stuttgart, Germany, was organized in 1931 following the successful performance of the HM 60 in several air races. The HM-60 was a 48.5 kW (65 shp) air-cooled, inverted direct-drive four-cylinder engine first run in 1923.
During 1935-45, following the development of various engine designs, Hirth introduced its 4-, 6-, and 8-cylinder HM 504, HM 506, and HM 508 series. All inverted air-cooled designs, they were respectively rated at 78.3, 119, and 209 kW (105, 160, and 280 shp). The most successful of these was the HM 504 which powered the Bucker Bu 131 B, Klemm Kl 35B, and Arado-Kabinenzweisitzers Ar 79. Today Hirth 2 cycle engines power ultralight and other light planes.
Credit Line
Transferred from the U.S. Air Force Museum.
Circa 1943
Inventory Number
A19670102000
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
Type
PROPULSION-Reciprocating & Rotary
Materials
Aluminum
Steel
Paper
Adhesive
Paint
Rubber
Dimensions
Depth 95.7 cm (37.7 in.), Width 50.5 cm (19.9 in.), Height 72.7 cm (28.6 in.)
Country of Origin
Germany
See more items in
National Air and Space Museum Collection
National Air and Space Museum
Record ID
nasm_A19670102000
Metadata Usage (text)
Not determined
GUID (Link to Original Record)
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv9e5e55947-9466-4be6-a28e-0147742072dd

Related Content

  • Propulsion

    Air and Space Museum

Footer logo

Link to homepage

Footer navigation

  • Contact Us
  • Job Opportunities
  • Get Involved
  • Inspector General
  • Records Requests
  • Accessibility
  • EEO & Small Business
  • Shop Online
  • Host Your Event
  • Press Room
  • Privacy
  • Terms of Use

Social media links

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn

Get the latest news from the Smithsonian

Sign up for Smithsonian e-news

Get the latest news from the Smithsonian

Email powered by BlackBaud (Privacy Policy, Terms of Use)
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
Back to Top