The Navy's interest in air-cooled radial engines encouraged Frederick Rentschler to establish the Pratt & Whitney Aircraft Company in 1925. The first Wasp was completed and tested in December of that year, and a second Wasp first flew in May 1926 in a Wright F3W-1 Apache aircraft. Two hundred production engines were delivered before the end of 1926.
The Boeing F2B-1 was the first operational aircraft to use the Wasp, which became known for its reliability, and was dominant in Navy and Army Air Corps fighter planes. It also made commercial air transportation profitable in the Boeing 40A. The Wasp R-1340 remained in production until 1960, later models producing up to 447 kW (600 shp).
The Wasp R-1340 SC1 powered the Bellanca Model F-2 and CH-400; Boeing Alpha 4-A; Boeing 4E; Curtiss 6000A; Detroit DL1; Douglas Dolphin 8-114; Fairchild FC-2-W2 and C-96; Laird CL-RW-450; Lockheed Model 5C, 10C, and C-101; Sikorsky S-36BS, S-38B, and S-38C.
Display Status
This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.
Object Details
Date
Circa 1932 -1936
Country of Origin
United States of America
Type
PROPULSION-Reciprocating & Rotary
Manufacturer
Pratt & Whitney
Physical Description
Type: Reciprocating, Radial, 9 cylinders, air-cooled
Power rating: 336 kW (450 hp) at 2,100 rpm
Displacement: 22.2 L (1344 cu in)
Bore and Stroke: 146 mm (5.8 in) x 146 mm (5.8 in)
Weight: 295 kg (650 lb)
manufactured circa 1932-36; has data plate; missing carburetor, starter, generator, magneto, 2 spark plugs, top half of exhaust system, crankshaft nut, no. 7 cylinder pushrod housing nuts (housing is broken), and gas primer lines missing; push rod no. 8 broken; no. 3 cylinder has broken fins; no. 5 and no. 9 cylinder intake manifolds dented; no. 5 and no. 6 cylinder oil lines flattened; exhaust manifold dented; front spark plug harness dented
Dimensions
Approximate: 151.13 x 157.48 x 121.92cm (4ft 11 1/2in. x 5ft 2in. x 4ft)
Overall: 1066lb. (483.5kg)
Materials
Steel, Aluminum, Paint, Copper, Rubber, Ceramic, Magnesium, Leather
Inventory Number
A19761915000
Credit Line
Gift of Gateway Technical Institute
Data Source
National Air and Space Museum
Restrictions & Rights
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