Wright Cyclone was the name given to a family of air-cooled radial piston engines designed by the Wright Aeronautical Corporation and used in numerous American aircraft in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s.
| Wright Cyclone series | |
|---|---|
| R-1300, R-1820, R-2600 and R-3350 | |
| Type | Radial engine series |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Wright Aeronautical |
Background
editThe Wright Aeronautical Corporation was formed in 1919, initially to develop liquid-cooled Hispano-Suiza V8 engines under license.[1] In 1923 the Wright purchased the Lawrance Aero Engine Company, and with the purchase Charles Lawrance came to Wright as the Vice-President.[1] Later that year the US Navy awarded Wright a contract to develop two new air-cooled radial engines. The first, called the P-1, was a 9-cylinder single row design of 1,652 cu in (27.07 L) displacement that was derived from an earlier Lawrence design, it produced 400 hp (300 kW).[2] The second, the P-2, had the same 1,652 cu in (27.07 L) displacement as the P-1, but was an improved design that produced 435 hp (324 kW).[2] Neither engine entered production, with the Navy selecting the superior Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp, so in 1926 work started on the improved 1,750 cu in (28.7 L) design, which became the R-1750 Cyclone.[3]
Cyclone family
editR-1300 Cyclone 7 (1942)[4][5]
- 7-cylinder single row air cooled radial
- Bore x stroke: 6+1⁄8 in × 6+5⁄16 in (156 mm × 160 mm)
- Displacement: 1,301 cu in (21.32 L)
- Power output: 800 hp (600 kW)
R-1750 Cyclone (1926)[2][6][3]
- 9-cylinder single row air cooled radial
- Bore x stroke: 6 in × 6+7⁄8 in (152 mm × 175 mm)
- Displacement: 1,750 cu in (28.7 L)
- Power output: 500–525 hp (373–391 kW)
R-1820 Cyclone (1932)[7][8][9]
- 9-cylinder single row air cooled radial
- Bore x stroke: 6+1⁄8 in × 6+7⁄8 in (156 mm × 175 mm)
- Displacement: 1,823 cu in (29.87 L)
- Power output: 575–1,525 hp (429–1,137 kW)
R-2600 Cyclone 14 (Twin Cyclone) (1935)[10][11]
- 14-cylinder two row air cooled radial
- Bore x stroke: 6+1⁄8 in × 6+5⁄16 in (156 mm × 160 mm)
- Displacement: 2,603 cu in (42.66 L)
- Power output: 1,400–1,900 hp (1,000–1,400 kW)
R-3350 Cyclone 18 (Duplex Cyclone) (1937)[10][12]
- 18-cylinder two row air cooled radial
- Bore x stroke: 6+1⁄8 in × 6+5⁄16 in (156 mm × 160 mm)
- Displacement: 3,347 cu in (54.85 L)
- Power output: 1,800–2,800 hp (1,300–2,100 kW)
- 22-cylinder two row air cooled radial
- Bore x stroke: 6+1⁄8 in × 6+5⁄16 in (156 mm × 160 mm)
- Displacement: 4,090 cu in (67.0 L)
Note: the designations refer to the engine configurations as follows: "R" = Radial, followed by the approximate displacement in cubic inches.
See also
edit- Pratt & Whitney Wasp series – contemporary competing line of engines
- Wright Whirlwind series – contemporary smaller displacement line of engines
References
editCitations
edit- ^ a b White 1995, p. 319.
- ^ a b c Gunston 1986, p. 175.
- ^ a b White 1995, p. 324.
- ^ Gunston 1986, p. 176.
- ^ Smith 1986, p. 129.
- ^ Smith 1986, p. 125.
- ^ Gunston 1986, pp. 175–176.
- ^ Smith 1986, pp. 125–126.
- ^ White 1995, pp. 324–331.
- ^ a b Gunston 1986, pp. 176–177.
- ^ White 1995, pp. 341–346.
- ^ White 1995, pp. 356–365.
- ^ White 2006, p. 22.
Bibliography
edit- Gunston, Bill (1986). World Encyclopedia of Aero Engines. Wellingborough, Northamptonshire: Patrick Stephens Limited. ISBN 0-85059-717-X.
- Smith, Herschel (1986). Aircraft Piston Engines: From the Manly Balzer to the Continental Tiara (Corrected ed.). Manhattan, Kansas: Sunflower University Press. ISBN 0-07-058472-9.
- White, Graham (1995). Allied Aircraft Piston Engines of World War II. Warrendale, Pennsylvania: Society of Automotive Engineers, Inc. ISBN 1-56091-655-9.
- White, Graham (2006). R-4360: Pratt & Whitney's Major Miracle. North Branch, Minnesota: Specialty Press. ISBN 978-1-58007-097-3.