Six-cylinder inverted in-line piston engine, delivering 185-225 hp in its various versions, designed in 1935 by Frank B. Halford for De Havilland as a development of the Gipsy Major. It was built under licence in Italy by Alfa Romeo.
General information
Six-cylinder inverted in-line piston engine, delivering 185-225 hp in its various versions, designed in 1935 by Frank B. Halford for De Havilland as a development of the Gipsy Major. It was built under licence in Italy by Alfa Romeo.
The initial civilian versions were known as the Gipsy Six for the civil market (about 1,150 units) and Gipsy Queen for the military market (about 5,000). It powered the celebrated DH.88 Comet racing twin and, in large numbers, the DH.89 Dragon Rapide airliner (over 730 units), the DH.104 Dove (542), the DH.114 Heron (150) and the four-seat Percival Proctor trainer and tourer (over 1,100).
From 1936 it was series-built under licence in Italy by Alfa Romeo as the Alfa 115, also in the improved Bis (1940) and Ter (1948) versions, for a total of more than 1,500 units. The differences from the original British production include Italian accessories.
It was built in Italy under licence in large numbers by Alfa Romeo as the Alfa 115, installed on aircraft such as the Nardi FN.305, Caproni Ca.164 and Ca.309 and, after the war, the Fiat G.46 and SAI Ambrosini S.7.
History of this engine
The Gipsy Queen was recovered in the Fano area towards the end of the 1990s; in the 1970s a Percival Proctor V — powered precisely by a Gipsy Queen — had been reported there, displayed in a garden in poor condition.
It has undergone static restoration for display purposes on a dedicated stand.