Le Havre, France, December 1903, the Antoinette engine, designed by Leon Levavasseur draws excitement in Aviation circles after its display. Named after the daughter of industrialist Jules Gastambide, who sponsored its dev-elopment, its very light weight and high power is believed to be the break-through needed to produce a practical powered airplane. 

Also at Gastambide's expense, Levavasseur built an airplane to use the engine. However, it failed to fly during trials at Villorran near Chantilly. This has not dampened enthusiasm for the engine. Leon Levavasseur received patents engine on August 28. Two have been perfected so far producing 24 hp and 5O hp. The larger weighs only 344 pounds. The water-cooled Antoine machined steel cylinders brass water jackets, arranged eight cylinder "V". The big ends are placed side by side on four crank pins. Instead of a carburetor, a manifold pipe leads to each cylinder, through which gasoline into a tiny funnel on each cylinder. After turning the valve on, gasoline vapor and air are sucked in induction stroke.