Modern piston aero engines.

 

In this modern youth vast numbers of light aircraft and microlight aircraft are mainly powered by Piston Engine. They are also used in crop sprayers, crop dusters, small helicopters and fire bombers (which dump water on large fire). Jet engines are mainly used to power heavier aircraft. The principle of engine used by wright brothers in the first powered flight is same for the modern piston aero engines. Earlier engines were naive than today's modern piston aero engines. For example, two stroke or four stroke combustion cycle may be used in modern piston aero engines then they may have one to nine air or water cooled cylinders. This may be arranged in line, horizontally, radially or in v formation. Also they may drive propeller through using reduction gearbox or either directly. Rotary and engine which has a trilobate (three sided) rotor spinning in a chamber shaped like a fat figure of eight is one of the more unconventional types of modern aero engine.