Curtiss K-12, V-12 Engine
date: label: Date
content: Circa 1918
name: label: Manufacturer
content: Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company
notes: label: Physical Description
content: Type: Reciprocating, 12 cylinders, V-type, water cooled
label: Physical Description
content: Power rating: 280 kW (375 hp) at 2,250 rpm
label: Physical Description
content: Displacement: 18.8 L (1,145.09 cu in.)
label: Physical Description
content: Bore and Stroke: 114 mm (4.5 in.) x 152 mm (6 in.)
label: Physical Description
content: Weight: 307.5 kg (678 lb)
label: Summary
content: In 1916 Curtiss engineer Charles Kirkham began designing an engine to compete with the Wright Corporation's Hispano-Suiza. By late 1917, the prototype K-12 (K for Kirkham) was bench tested. While it met its design objectives of high power, low frontal area, compact size, and low weight, the engine encountered technical difficulties during development. Kirkham left Curtiss in 1919, and Arthur Nutt took over the project, eventually producing the D-12, which became a highly successful racing and military power plant in the 1920s.
label: Summary
content: This engine is manufacturer's number 5 out of about 20 built. The K-12 powered the Curtiss Navy 18T Wasp triplane and the Army Curtiss 18B Hornet biplane. In 1919 Curtiss test pilot Roland Rholfs set a new world's altitude record of 10,641 m (34,910 ft) with the 18T.
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: Transferred from the U.S. Navy
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Air and Space Museum
identifier: label: Inventory Number
content: A19710907000
objectType: label: Type
content: PROPULSION-Reciprocating & Rotary
objectRights: label: Restrictions & Rights
content: CC0
physicalDescription: label: Materials
content: Steel, Aluminum, Paint, Preservative coating, Rubber, Ceramic, Copper, Brass, Phenolic
label: Dimensions
content: Length 152.4 cm (60 in.) (approximate), Width 70.8 cm (27.875 in.), Height 101.9 cm (40.125 in.)