Pratt & Whitney R-4360-20 first start

[Thruster87]

 

Here's the King of Radials.....

 

 

Pratt & Whitney R-4360-20 first start

 

 

 

Below, you will find

 

 

a great test stand video of the Pratt & Whitney 4360 Wasp engine introduced in 1944. Basically, the engine was

 

28-

 

[/url]cylinder

 

 

four-row air cooled radial engine. Each row of pistons was slightly offset from the previous, forming a semi-helical arrangement to facilitate efficient airflow cooling of the successive rows of cylinders, with the spiraled cylinder setup inspiring the engine's "corncob" nickname. A mechanical

 

[/url]supercharger

 

geared at 6.374:1 ratio to engine speed provided forced induction, while the

 

propeller

 

was geared at 0.375:1 so that the tips did not reach inefficient

 

supersonic

 

speeds. Initially, it developed 3,000 horsepower, later models gave 3,500 horsepower.

 

 

The 4360 powered the B-50, successor to the B-29 and later the B-36, to name a few. And although reliable in flight, the Wasp Major was maintenance-intensive. Improper starting technique could foul all 56

 

spark plugs

 

, which would require hours to clean or replace. As with most piston aircraft engines of the era, the

 

time between overhauls

 

of the Wasp Major was about 600 hours when used in commercial service.

 

Why am I sending this to you?

 

Because it looks and sounds neat.

 

That's all. Just a test stand video of a newly restored engine. But turn the speakers all the way up. Bask in the roar of twenty-eight cylinders belching the sound of freedom. Also, the sound will most likely clear out the cat, your wife and any other extemporaneous people not accustomed to military sounds and the glorious roar of a Pratt & Whitney "round" engine.

 

 

As the Warbird people say, "Jets are for kids."

 

 

Click here: Pratt & Whitney R-4360-20 first start on Vimeo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[RKW]

What a brute of an engine!

 

 

[facthunter]

It's about the final development ot the radial engine. Not ever the most reliable of engines built. Most had all the exhausts running through power recovery turbines that were geared to the crankshaft at the rear to give the best specific fuel consumption figures ever achieved. This engine has an exhaust system that doesn't include that feature. You wouldn't want to run it long uncowled as it would overheat. R means Radial 4360 is the displacement in cubic inches. 61 cubic inches is one litre, so it's BIG. Nev

 

 

[Derby]

Give me a Bristol Centaurus anyday.

 

Cheers Rory