The R-4360 was Pratt & Whitney's last aircraft piston engine, as well as the largest and the most complicated piston engine produced in quantity in the United States. The 28 cylinders were in four rows of seven cylinders each, arranged in a spiral for better cooling, which contributed to the popular nickname of "corncob" applied to all multi-row radial engines.
The R-4360 (known by its commercial designation as the Wasp Major) mainly powered large American military aircraft, including the Boeing C-97, Douglas C-124, and Fairchild C-119 transports and the Boeing B-50 and Consolidated B-36 bombers. Early versions of the R-4360 produced 2,237 kW (3,000 hp); later models developed 3,207 kW (4,300 hp). It is believed that Pratt & Whitney crafted this cutaway from a production R-4360 as a teaching tool for military mechanics during World War II.
Display Status
This object is on display in Boeing Aviation Hangar at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA.
Object Details
Date
1943
Country of Origin
United States of America
Type
PROPULSION-Reciprocating & Rotary
Manufacturer
Pratt & Whitney
Physical Description
Type: Reciprocating, Radial, 28 cylinders, 4-spiral rows, air-cooled
Power rating: 2,237 kW (3,000 hp) at 2,700 rpm
Displacement: 71.5 L (4,360 cu. in.)
Bore and Stroke: 146 mm (5.8 in.) x 152 mm (6 in.)
Weight: 1,585 kg (3,490 lb)
Dimensions
Diameter 137.2 cm (54 in.), Length 245.6 cm (96.69 in.)
Inventory Number
A19790005000
Credit Line
Transferred from the U.S. Marine Corps Aviation Museum
Data Source
National Air and Space Museum
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
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