The WAM unit is a direct-drive two-stroke inverted inline triple with wet-sump, liquid cooling, supercharger, turbocharger and intercooler.
[2] Being inverted, the engine has its crankshaft at the top directly driving the propeller, and a camshaft at the bottom, immersed in sump oil.
Charged air for combustion is introduced under pressure through a gallery of small ports, and exhaust gases are later expelled through poppet valves in the cylinder head.
However, funding proved problematic, and it became expedient to extend the product range by developing a larger capacity version of the three-cylinder motor.
To date, some 20 aircraft have flown with WAM power, and one engine has been installed (in pusher mode) in a Staverton-based Rutan Long-EZ.
[8][9] This cooperative effort bodes well for the future of Wilksch Automotive, and is expected to lead to the WAM engine becoming a specified option for the Liberty XL2.