FPW Model 72P849 Pratt And Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp (Middle Type)

The Pratt and Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp was an American aircraft engine from the Second World War. It was first launched in 1937 and the first flight tests took place in May 1940. The engine - in the R-2800-54 version - had a weight of 1,073 kilograms with a displacement of 46 liters. It was one of the most important and most produced aero-engines during World War II. It is estimated that about 125,000 copies of this power unit were manufactured.

The Pratt and Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp was an 18-cylinder air-cooled double-star radial engine. The R-2800 engine was developed as part of the Wasp line of Pratt and Whitney aircraft engines. However, he was the first of them with 18 cylinders. This technological innovation allowed to achieve very high maximum power, but at the beginning it generated numerous problems - especially with effective engine cooling. After their elimination, the R-2800 Double Wasp turned out to be a very successful, compact and low-failure power unit with a great power-weight or power-displacement ratio. During World War II, the engine was constantly improved and in subsequent versions it achieved higher and higher maximum powers, for example: R-2800-1 had 1500 HP, R-2800-5 reached 1850 HP, and R-2800-8 already 2000 HP. in the R-2800-57 version, reach 2800 KM! The engine was used as a power unit for many US military aircraft. It powered such famous machines as: Douglas A-26 Invader, Martin B-26 Marauder, Republic P-47 Thunderbolt or Vought F4U Corsair.