Pratt & Whitney Wasp A, R-1300 (R-1340), Radial 9 Engine

Object Details

Physical Description: Type: Reciprocating, 9 cylinders, radial, air-cooled; Power rating: 317 kW (425 hp) at 1,900 rpm; Displacement: 22.2 L (1,344 cu in); Bore and Stroke: 146 mm (5.8 in.) X 146 mm (5.8 in.); Weight: 327 kg (720 lb); Condition: Complete engine; grey crankcase and black cylinders; on display stand.
Summary: Having departed from Wright, Frederick Rentschler informed the Navy of his plan to manufacture air-cooled radial engines, and incorporated the Pratt & Whitney Aircraft Company on July 23, 1925. This Serial Number 1 Wasp, the first of a long series of famous aircraft engines from Pratt & Whitney, was completed on December 24, 1925 and finished the 50-hour approval test in March 1926. On May 5 a second Wasp took to the air in the Wright F3W-1 Apache aircraft. A contract for 200 Series A Wasps was received and production engines delivered before the end of 1926.; Known for its reliability, the new engine soon dominated U.S. fighter planes, and made commercial air transportation profitable in the Boeing 40A. The Boeing F2B-1 was the first operational aircraft to use the Wasp engine. Approximately 100 different experimental and production airplanes utilized the engine, with the Wasp R-1340 remaining in production until 1960.

Credit Line: Transferred from the Department of the Navy, Bureau of Aeronautics

1925

Materials: Metal
Dimensions: 3-D: 102.6 × 128.5cm, 326.6kg (40 3/8 × 50 5/8 in., 720lb.); Support: 108.6 × 126.4 × 111.8cm (42 3/4 in. × 49 3/4 in. × 44 in.)

National Air and Space Museum

GUID (Link to Original Record): http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv9fcf51696-77b9-4ca8-8a3b-d3f8a1a7cf42