King-Bugatti U-16 Engine
date: label: Date
content: 1919
name: label: Designer
content: Charles B. King
label: Manufacturer
content: Duesenberg Motors Corporation
label: Designer
content: Ettore Bugatti
notes: label: Physical Description
content: Type: Reciprocating, 16 cylinders, U-type, liquid cooled
label: Physical Description
content: Power rating: 306 kW (410 hp) at 2,000 rpm
label: Physical Description
content: Displacement: 24.3 L (1,484 cu in)
label: Physical Description
content: Bore and Stroke: 110 mm (4.3 in.) x 160 mm (6.3 in.)
label: Physical Description
content: Weight (dry): 583 kg (1,286 lb)
label: Summary
content: Ettore Bugatti designed the prototype of this engine in France during World War I. The U.S. Government's Bolling Commission, established to acquire European military aeronautical technology that could be built in America, purchased it because of its high performance potential and ability to mount a 37 mm cannon that could fire through the propeller hub. Duesenberg Motors was selected to produce the engine.
label: Summary
content: Engineer Charles B. King and his team made significant changes to correct technical problems and make the engine suitable for U.S. production methods. Renamed the King-Bugatti, it passed its 50-hour military test in October 1918. Production was just beginning when the war ended. Duesenberg manufactured about 40 King-Bugattis by early 1919. None are known to have powered a U.S. aircraft.
place: label: Country of Origin
content: United States of America
setName: label: See more items in
content: National Air and Space Museum Collection
label: Location
content: Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA
label: Hangar
content: Boeing Aviation Hangar
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: On Loan from the War Department, Air Service, Washington, D.C.
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Air and Space Museum
identifier: label: Inventory Number
content: A19200007000
objectType: label: Type
content: PROPULSION-Reciprocating & Rotary
objectRights: label: Restrictions & Rights
content: CC0
physicalDescription: label: Dimensions
content: Length 112.4 cm (44.25 in.), Width 63 cm (24.8 in.), Height 82 cm (32.28 in.) (all dimensions approximate)