The centrifugal forces of a rotary engine are not insignificant, approximately 300 lbs spinning at 1500- 2500rpm would have a big effect on the flight characteristics of a World War 1 aircraft. Here is one interesting and complicated solution to eliminating the effects, two engines turned 90 degrees and geared together, way too much motion going on. I wonder if an operating prototype was ever constructed.
The attached image is from German patent No. 341480 from Siemens and Halske AG, dated June 23, 1918:
The subject of the invention consists of two rotary engines, particularly for powering aircraft, which are designed as high-speed engines. According to the invention, not only the cylinders and crankshaft of each engine rotate in opposite directions, but also the cylinders and crankshafts of the two engines rotate in opposite directions. This counter-rotation is enforced by a bevel gear located between the two radial engines, in which two bevel gears are rigidly connected by a shaft, one of which cooperates with the corresponding gears of the opposing parts.
For example, the cylinder blocks can each rotate at 800 revolutions, the crankshafts at 1600 revolutions, thus the engine at 2400 revolutions, and the propeller at 1200 revolutions: a speed that is most favorable for the propeller's efficiency.
From https://www.bungartz.nl/siemtuig_d.html
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