History of AirplanesThe radial engine is an internal combustion engine in which the cylinders are arranged around a central crankshaft like the spokes on a wheel. Airplanes with radial engines have a distinctive, large, round nose.
Radial engines were very common in aircraft engines between 1920 and 1950. The cylinders are connected to the crankshaft with a master-and-articulating-rod assembly. One cylinder has a master rod with a direct attachment to the crankshaft. The remaining cylinders pin their connecting rods attachments to rings around the edge of the master rod. Four-stroke radials almost always have an odd number of cylinders, so that a consistent every-other-piston firing order can be maintained, providing smooth running. Typically radial engines had 7 or 9 cylinders. The most powerful radials had a double row, thus having 14 or 18 cylinders.
Radial engines are not rotary engines, an earlier design, in which the cylinders rotated around the crankshaft.
Some of the most famous radial engines were the Pratt & Whitney Wasp and Curtiss-Wright Whirlwind.
Early in World War Two, American fliers thought they were facing a “wonder weapon,” in the Pacific: Japan’s A6M2 Zero, the main fighter plane of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN). It flew rings around the Brewster Buffalo’s, the Bell P-39’s, and (to a lesser extent) the Grumman F4F Wildcats. The Zero pilots were superb; [...]
The 1911 version of Robert Esnault-Pelterie differed radically from the older type in the method of elevation control and in the construction of the tail as well as in propeller, motor, etc. This type was built in two sizes (one or two seater) and largely preserved the graceful lines of its predecessors. After [...]
This advertisement appeared in Aero Digest, April, 1935:
THE BEECHCRAFT
READ THIS: AN AMAZING STATEMENT
A few of the leaders who use Beechcrafts:
Socony Vacuum Co.
Department of. Commerce
Standard Oil, of N. J.
Loffland Bros.
O. J. Whitney Flying Service
Olson Drilling Co.
Gilpin Air Lines
FAR greater speeds and operating economy are practical with standard aircraft motors–every-day performance of the many Beechcrafts in this [...]
Coast Guard Dolphin in NYC
Aero Digest specsEast Boston (now Logan) airport in 1936.
Eight-place high-wing amphibion monoplane.
Two P. & W. Wasp engines, 450 h.p. each.
The Douglas Dolphin was an amphibious flying boat. While fewer than 60 were built, they served a wide variety of roles: private ” air yacht”, airliner, military transport, and search and rescue. [...]
First modern airliner
All-metal, twin-engine, low-wing monoplane - 180 MPH
an aircraft featured on the Hall of Fame of the Air
Looking at old airplanes, they seem incredibly archaic — with two wings, made of wood and cloth, open cockpits, struts and wires all over. But the 1933 Boeing Model 247 suddenly resembles modern aircraft. Not [...]
Rearwin Airplanes, Incorporated, Fairfax Airport, Kansas City, Kansas
Specifications from Aero Digest, April, 1935:
• Two-place high-wing monoplane. ATC 469. LeBlond engine, 70 horsepower. Span 35 feet. Length overall 22 feet 3 inches. Height overall 6 feet 9 inches. Wing area 166 square feet. Chord 62.5 inches. Power loading 18 pounds per horsepower. Wing loading 8.13 [...]
Rearwin Airplanes, Incorporated, Fairfax Airport, Kansas City, Kansas
Specifications from Aero Digest, April, 1935:
• Two-place open or closed high-wing monoplane. A TC 469. Aeromarine engine, 50 horsepower. Span 36 feet. Length 21 feet 8 inches. Height 7 feet 3 inches. Wing area 179 square feet. Power loading 21.3 pounds per horsepower. Wing loading 5.95 pounds [...]
NO PICTURE
Waco Aircraft Company, Troy, Ohio
Specifications from Aero Digest, April, 1935:
• Four-place biplane. (Models UOC, YOC, and CUC respectively; data on YOC indicated in brackets, and on CUC following brackets in that order.) Continental engine, 210 horsepower (Jacobs engine, 225 horsepower) Wright engine, 250 horsepower.
Span 35 feet. Length overall 25 feet 4 inches [...]
Waco Aircraft Company, Troy, Ohio
Specifications from Aero Digest, April, 1935:
• Three-place open biplane. (Models UMF and YMF respectively; data on YMF indicated in brackets.) Continental engine 210 horsepower. (Jacobs engine 225 horsepower.) ATC 546 (542).
Span 30 feet. Length overall 23 feet 3.62 inches. Height overall 8 feet 5.37 inches. Wing area 233.5 square feet. [...]
Waco Aircraft Company, Troy, Ohio
Specifications from Aero Digest, April, 1935:
• Four-place biplane. (Models UKC, YKC, and CJC respectively; data on CJC indicated in brackets and on YKC following brackets in that order.) Continental engine, 210 horsepower (Wright Whirlwind engine, 250 horsepower) Jacobs engine 225 horsepower. ATC 528 (538) 533.
Span 33 ft. 2.62 in. (34 [...]