Irwin Meteor Model 72, X-4 Radial Engine
date: label: Date
content: ca. 1926
name: label: Manufacturer
content: Irwin Aircraft Company (Watsonville, California)
notes: label: Physical Description
content: Type: Reciprocating, radial, 4 cylinders, x-configuration; 2-stroke cycle, air-cooled
label: Physical Description
content: Power rating: 14.9 kW (20 hp) at 2,000 rpm
label: Physical Description
content: Displacement: 1.18 L (72 cu. in.)
label: Physical Description
content: Bore and Stroke: 73 mm (2.875 in.) x 70 mm (2.75 in.)
label: Physical Description
content: Weight: 27 kg (60 lb)
label: Summary
content: Beginning around 1922, J.F. Irwin’s Irwin Aircraft Company of Watsonville, California designed and provided blueprints for small, single seat sport aircraft which were supposedly simple enough for enthusiastic amateurs to build. In 1925, it introduced its Meteormotor. In 1926, it was improved by using copper instead of iron for cylinder cooling fins. Although classified as a radial, it was actually two opposed twins at ninety degrees to each other. This engine powered the Irwin M-T-2 and C-C-1 aircraft.
place: label: Country of Origin
content: United States of America
setName: label: See more items in
content: National Air and Space Museum Collection
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Gift of Preston Kirk
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Air and Space Museum
identifier: label: Inventory Number
content: A19571001000
objectType: label: Type
content: PROPULSION-Reciprocating & Rotary
objectRights: label: Restrictions & Rights
content: CC0
physicalDescription: label: Materials
content: Steel, Aluminum, Rubber, Copper, Paint, Ceramic, Brass
label: Dimensions
content: Depth 101.6 cm (40 in.), Length 82.6 cm (32.5 in.), Width 65.4 cm (25.75 in.)