BMW engines have been manufactured for airplanes, automobiles, and motorcycles since 1916 by the Bayerische Motorenwerke AG of Munich, Germany. The firm remains active, of course, and is one of the most prestigious manufacturers in the world. As part of their tradition, they have built horizontally-opposed, two-cylinder motorcycle engines since the early 1920s. These engines may have been adapted to light aircraft throughout the years, but it is only recently that the interest has become more focused. BMW does not support this effort, similarly to VW, but can do little about private individuals converting motorcycle engines for light aircraft. The first two HOAE below are post-WWII conversions from the USSR. BMW motorcycle engine conversions reported recently are the last five below, the O-60 (R 100), the O-66 (R 1100), the O-70 (R 1150), the O-71 (R 1200), and the N/A (R 1250). Information can be found on the latter three engine models at Microlight Sport Website in the UK. This link is to the homepage; from there go to "Catalogue", then to "New Items", and then to "BMW engine". Conversion hardware, including the engines and gear boxes, is described there.
The WWII aircraft engine works, BMW Flugmotorenbau, G.m.b.H. of Munich, closed at the end of that war. In 12/54, the BMW Studiengesellschaft für Triebwerksbau was formed by the parent BMW auto and motorcycle company to plan for aircraft engine manufacture when the Allied Occupation Forces in West Germany lifted restrictions on aircraft and aircraft engine development. BMW Triebwerkbau G.m.b.H succeeded the 1954 organization and in 11/57 obtained licenses for gas turbine engines as well as a license from Avco Lycoming to build Lycoming GO-480-B1A6 engines for German-built aircraft. BMW Triebwerkbau received FAA type certificate 7E1 on 2/16/61 for this Lycoming engine. Other gas turbine engines have been developed and built subsequently by the BMW engine firm, which after several mergers and changes in ownership still is active in aircraft gas turbine engines as part of Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd. and Co. KG. More details of the corporate changes can be found from various editions of Jane's All the World's Aircraft.
N/A -- {N/A / N/A / N/A} / {N/A / N/A / N/A}
2cyl; N/A; 27hp@N/A rpm; 1947-1950; Wt = N/A.
BMW motorcycle engine adapted for aircraft use in the USSR.
BGR.
Applications: (USSR) Kamov Ka-8 light helicopter (initial version).
N/A -- {N/A / N/A / N/A} / {N/A / N/A / N/A}
2cyl; N/A; 45hp@N/A rpm; 1947-1955; Wt = N/A.
BMW motorcycle engine built under license in the USSR as the M-76 aircraft engine.
BGR.
Applications: (USSR) Kamov Ka-8 light helicopter (later version).
O-60 -- {3.701 / 2.780 / 59.8} / {94 / 70.6 / 980}
2cyl; R 100; 70-80hp@N/A rpm; 2000-present; Wt = 155#.
Conversions have been reported in South Africa, the UK, and the US. The adaptation by the Airdale firm in the US is geared to 0.333 or 0.382 by using a Rotax C gearbox (see SP8/04 about Rotax gearboxes).
J03-04to present; Ultralight News Website.
Applications: (Czech Republic) Let-Mont UL Tulak, UL Piper (tandem UL Tulak). (UK) Reality Easy Raider R100 (US Sky Raider II development). (US) Avid Flyer (modified as Airdale).
O-66 -- {3.898 / 2.776 / 66.2} / {99 / 70.5 / 1085}
Same stroke as O-69.
2cyl; R 1100; 100-105hp@N/A rpm; 2002-present; Wt = 153-161#.
Geared to N/A.
J03-04to present; KP7/03.
Applications: (Czech Republic) Let-Mont UL Tulak, UL Piper (tandem UL Tulak). (France) Sauper J.300 Series 3 Joker. (Germany) Aerostyle Breezer. (UK) Europa.
O-69 -- {3.976 / 2.776 / 68.9} / {101 / 70.5 / 1130}
Same bore as O-71.
Same stroke as O-66.
2cyl; R 1150; 90-100hp@N/A rpm; 2004-present; Wt = 168#.
Geared to N/A.
J04-05to present; Microlight Sport Website.
Applications: None found.
O-71 -- {3.976 / 2.874 / 71.4} / {101 / 73 / 1170}
Same bore as O-69.
2cyl; R 1200; 90-100hp@N/A rpm; 2004-present; Wt = N/A.
Geared to N/A.
Microlight Sport Website.
Applications: None found.
N/A -- {N/A / N/A / N/A} / {N/A / N/A / N/A}
2cyl; R 1250; N/A hp@N/A rpm; 2006-present; Wt = N/A.
Geared to N/A; no record of this engine can be found on the BMW factory website; perhaps it is a post-manufacture modification of the R 1200 engines.
Microlight Sport Website.
Applications: None found.