Wright Cyclone series
| Wright Cyclone series | |
|---|---|
R-1300, R-1820, R-2600 and R-3350 | |
| Type | Radial engine series |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Wright Aeronautical |
| Manufactured | June 1932–December 1963[1] |
| Number built | 259,079[1] |
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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.
Background
[edit]The Wright Aeronautical Corporation was formed in 1919, initially to develop liquid-cooled Hispano-Suiza V8 engines under license.[2] In 1923 Wright purchased the Lawrance Aero Engine Company, and Charles Lawrance came to Wright as the Vice-President.[2] 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).[3] 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).[3] 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.[4]
Cyclone family
[edit]R-1300 Cyclone 7 (1942)[5][6]
- 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)[3][7][4]
- 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)[8][9][10]
- 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)[11][12]
- 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)[11][13]
- 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
[edit]Citations
[edit]- 1 2 Summary: Engines Shipped (on an Invoice Basis) by Wright Aeronautical Division and Licensees from 1920 to January 1, 1964 (PDF), Order & Contract Department, Curtiss-Wright, June 1964, pp. 4–5, retrieved 22 September 2026
- 1 2 White 1995, p. 319.
- 1 2 3 Gunston 1986, p. 175.
- 1 2 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.
- 1 2 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.