The Evolution of Piston Aircraft Engines: Development, Performance Indicators, and Technological Advancements

Piston aircraft engines have undergone significant transformations over the decades, reaching their peak in the 1940s before gradually being replaced by turbine propulsion. Their development has been influenced by technological advancements, fuel composition improvements, and the demands of major armed conflicts, which have accelerated innovation. This study categorizes the historical development of piston aircraft engines into several distinct periods, analyzing changes in operational indicators using data from hundreds of engines (collected through an extensive review of archival publications and manufacturer catalogs). Key factors such as supercharging technologies and fuel quality are examined to highlight their impact on engine performance. Given the broad scope of the subject, this article focuses on the era when piston engines dominated aircraft propulsion, illustrating their advancements through comparative analysis and graphical representations of power, efficiency, and design trends.