Pratt & Whitney R-2800

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Pratt & Whitney R-2800
Pratt & Whitney R-2800
Pratt & Whitney R-2800-21
Pratt & Whitney R-2800-21

The Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp was an aircraft engine, and part of the long-lived Wasp family. It was a two-row, 18-cylinder, air-cooled radial design. Displacement was 2,804 cubic inches (46 liters); bore and stroke were 5.75" and 6".

The R-2800 is considered one of the premier radial piston engines ever designed. It became legendary when used in several aircraft during World War II, notably the F4U Corsair, P-47 Thunderbolt, and the Grumman F6F Hellcat. During the war years, Pratt & Whitney were always coming up with new ideas to upgrade this already powerful workhorse, most notably water injection to give emergency power in combat.

After World War II, the engine was used in the Korean War, and surplus World War II aircraft powered with the Double-Wasp served with other countries well past the Korean War, some being retired as late as the latter part of the 1960s when the aircraft were replaced. The R-2800 also powered post-war propliners from Douglas, Lockheed and Martin. Today, more than 60 years after the first Double Wasp was built, it is still used in many restored vintage aircraft in air shows, and sees frequent service worldwide on such aircraft as the Canadair CL215 water-bomber.

Contents

[edit] Models

  • R-2800-9: 2,000 hp (1,491 kW)
  • R-2800-10W: 2,000 hp (1,491 kW)
  • R-2800-21: 2,000 hp (1,491 kW)
  • R-2800-27: 2,000 hp (1,491 kW)
  • R-2800-30W: 2,250 hp (1,677 kW)
  • R-2800-31: 2,000 hp (1,491 kW)
  • R-2800-34W: 2,100 hp (1,567 kW)
  • R-2800-43: 2,000 hp (1,491 kW)
  • R-2800-54: 2,100 hp (1,567 kW)
  • R-2800-57C: 2,800 hp (2,090 kW)
  • R-2800-59: 2,300 hp (1700 kW)

[edit] R-2800-57C

This is the engine specified for P-47M and P-47N. The engine specs reveal a "C" crankcase with the Bendix Scintilla DF-18LN magneto. So, it should have the late-style barrel shaped/bolted gear reduction unit with two octagonal distributors (10:30 and 1:30 position) and a single dual magneto (at 12:00). The distribution harness was the square-section cast version. (Visually identical to the engine(s) in the F4U-4, F7F or F8F and some P-61C). The engine also used a single stage, single speed supercharger (due to the P-47's use of a turbocharger), and a downdraft Bendix/Stromberg carburetor sitting at the top of the auxiliary section.

[edit] Specifications (R-2800-54)

General characteristics

  • Type: 18-cylinder air-cooled two-row radial engine with water injection
  • Bore: 5.75 in (146 mm)
  • Stroke: 6 in (152 mm)
  • Displacement: 2,804 in³ (46 L)
  • Diameter: 52.8 in (1342 mm)
  • Dry weight: 2,360 lb (1,073 kg)

Components

Performance

[edit] Aircraft usage

A partial list of aircraft that were powered by the R-2800 (and a few prototypes that utilized it at one point) includes the

[edit] Related contents

Related development

Comparable engines

[edit] Reference

Bridgman, Leonard, ed. Jane’s All The World’s Aircraft 1951-1952. London: Samson Low, Marston & Company, Ltd 1951.

[edit] External links

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