Lycoming GSO-580

The Lycoming GSO-580 is a family of eight-cylinder horizontally opposed, supercharged, carburetor-equipped aircraft engines for both airplanes and helicopters, manufactured by Lycoming Engines in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

The family includes the original GSO-580 fixed-wing aircraft engine series, as well as the later SO-580 and VSO-580 helicopter engines. There is no non-supercharged, non-geared version of the engine, which would have been designated O-580 and therefore the base model is the GSO-580.

Design and development
The GSO-580 family of engines covers a range from 375 hp to 400 hp. All have a displacement of 578 cuin and the cylinders have air-cooled heads. Compared to other horizontally opposed engines of similar displacement this family of engines produces high output power by supercharging and high maximum rpm, at the cost of higher weight.

The GSO-580 series was certified under Type Certificate 256, while the SO-580 and VSO-580 series were certified under type certificate 285. Both were manufactured under Production Certificate No. 3.

Variants

 * O-580-1:Military variant similar to the GSO-580-D
 * GSO-580
 * Eight-cylinder, horizontally opposed, geared-drive, supercharged, 578 cuin, 375 hp at 3300 rpm for take-off, 320 hp at 3000 rpm continuous, dry weight 619 lb, Bendix PSH-9BDE carburetor. Minimum fuel grade 91/98 avgas. Designation indicates Geared, Supercharged, Opposed.


 * GSO-580-B
 * Eight-cylinder, horizontally opposed, geared-drive, supercharged, 578 cuin, 400 hp at 3300 rpm for take-off, 350 hp at 3000 rpm continuous, dry weight 624 lb, Bendix PSH-9BDE carburetor. Minimum fuel grade 100/130 avgas. Designation indicates Geared, Supercharged, Opposed.


 * GSO-580-C
 * Eight-cylinder, horizontally opposed, geared-drive, supercharged, 578 cuin, 375 hp at 3300 rpm for take-off, 320 hp at 3000 rpm continuous, dry weight 604 lb, Bendix PS-9BDE carburetor. Minimum fuel grade 91/98 avgas. Designation indicates Geared, Supercharged, Opposed.


 * GSO-580-D
 * Eight-cylinder, horizontally opposed, geared-drive, supercharged, 578 cuin, 400 hp at 3300 rpm for take-off, 350 hp at 3000 rpm continuous, dry weight 608 lb, Bendix PS-9BDE carburetor. Minimum fuel grade 100/130 avgas. Designation indicates Geared, Supercharged, Opposed.


 * SO-580-A1A
 * Eight-cylinder, horizontally opposed, geared-drive, supercharged, 578 cuin, 400 hp at 3300 rpm for take-off, 350 hp at 3000 rpm continuous, dry weight 596 lb, Bendix PS-9BDE carburetor. Minimum fuel grade 100/130 avgas. Designation indicates Supercharged, Opposed. Designed for horizontal or up to 35 degrees nose-up helicopter installation.


 * SO-580-A1B
 * Eight-cylinder, horizontally opposed, geared-drive, supercharged, 578 cuin, 400 hp at 3300 rpm for take-off, 350 hp at 3000 rpm continuous, dry weight 578 lb, Bendix PS-9BDE carburetor. Minimum fuel grade 100/130 avgas. Designation indicates Supercharged, Opposed. Designed for horizontal or up to 35 degrees nose-up helicopter installation.


 * VSO-580-A1A
 * Eight-cylinder, horizontally opposed, geared-drive, supercharged, 578 cuin, 400 hp at 3300 rpm for take-off, 350 hp at 3000 rpm continuous, dry weight 592 lb, Bendix PS-9BDE carburetor. Minimum fuel grade 100/130 avgas. Designation indicates Vertical-mounted, Supercharged, Opposed. Designed for vertical helicopter installation.

Applications

 * GSO-580
 * Beechcraft Model 34
 * Cessna 308
 * Fairchild XNQ
 * SO-580
 * Doman LZ-5