Rapp Motorenwerke

Rapp Motorenwerke GmbH was an aircraft engine manufacturer in Germany. It was in operations at the turn of the 20th Century and underwent numerous mergers and changes before becoming BMW AG.

Early engines

Karl Rapp and Julius Auspitzer founded Karl Rapp Motorenwerke GmbH (Rapp Motorenwerke) with a capital stock of RM 200,000 on 28 October 1913 on the site of Flugwerke Deutschland GmbH (after the company went into liquidation). General Consul Auspitzer was the company's sole shareholder, with the operational side of the company managed by Karl Rapp. The idea was for the new company to build and sell "engines of all types, in particular internal combustion engines for aircraft and motor vehicles", in addition to building an engine for the second Kaiserpreis (Kaiser's Trophy) rally, but it was not ready in time.

Before World War I, Rapp produced both in-line 6-cylinder and V8 cylinder water-cooled aeroengines. The in-line 6-cylinder produced 125 hp @ 215 kg (474 lb); with a 901 cu in (14.8-litre) displacement. Soon, the company made the Rapp II, which increased the power output to 150 hp @ 260 kg (573 lb). Shortly thereafter, early into World War I, the Rapp III 175 hp (actual 162 hp @ 1400 rpm) 295 kg (651 lb) six-cylinder aeroengine was manufactured. The V8 they developed was 1201 cu in (19.7-litre), producing 200 hp @ 300 kg (661 lb).