The 1939 introduction of the original Mighty Atom 0.098 cuin. (1.6 cc) spark ignition engine initiated a succession of technically unusual designs which spanned the WW2 years in America. These remarkable and innovative little powerplants broke new ground in the field of model engine design and manufacture, also expanding the scope of aeromodelling as it then stood. They were the first commercially-produced models to be designed by the mega-talented Ray Arden.

With their small displacement, use of a piston-valve transfer system, mixture control through variation of the air intake as opposed to fuel metering and an ingenious low-drag "snap action" timer, these engine were well out of the design rut of their era. Adding to their appeal was the fact that they performed at an amazingly high level for such small engines by the standards of their day. They were also constructed to very high standards, as indeed they had to be given their design features.

The design survived the war, but the post-WW2 examples never came close to matching the quality of their pre-WW2 ancestors. Together with the post-war competition from the Arden .099, this ensured that they failed to retain a market share. The advent of Ray Arden's glow-plug in late 1947 put an end to all Mighty Atom production - no attempt was ever made to develop a glow-plug version. A few additional examples were assembled by others much later using residual original components, while there have been several attempts at replication.

A full review and test of the Mightly Atom will appear on this website in due course.