Curtiss CD-12 Prototype (Serial Number 1) V-12 Engine
date: label: Date
content: Circa1921
name: label: Manufacturer
content: Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company
notes: label: Physical Description
content: Type: Reciprocating, V-type, 12 cylinders, water-cooled
label: Physical Description
content: Power rating: 242 kW (325 hp) at 1,800 rpm
label: Physical Description
content: Displacement: 18.8 L (1,145 cu in.)
label: Physical Description
content: Bore and Stroke: 114 mm (4.5 in.) x 152 mm (6 in.)
label: Physical Description
content: Weight: 308 kg (680 lb)
label: Summary
content: The CD-12 development history extended over several years, and involved a number of well regarded figures in the aircraft industry. Beginning in 1915, using the design skills of Charles Kirkham, and in competition with Wright which was licensed to build the popular Hispano-Suiza engine in the United States, Curtiss, then led by John North Willys, began development of the K-12 engine.
label: Summary
content: A 224 kW (300 hp) engine weighing less than 454 kg (1,000 lb) was a great challenge. So it was not surprising that the aluminum monoblock and several other advanced features, including the reduction gearing, presented substantial problems, appearing in various stages of the development process.
label: Summary
content: Unable to overcome these difficulties, Kirkham left Curtiss in 1919. However, development continued under Arthur Nutt, and a derated CD-12, without the reduction gearing of the K-12, resulted in 1921. This further developed into the 1922 D-12, a successful engine for both racing and fighter 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: Transferred from the U.S. Navy Department, Washington, D.C.
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Air and Space Museum
identifier: label: Inventory Number
content: A19270005000
objectType: label: Type
content: PROPULSION-Reciprocating & Rotary
objectRights: label: Restrictions & Rights
content: CC0
physicalDescription: label: Materials
content: Aluminum, Steel, Rubber, Preservative coating, Phenolic
label: Dimensions
content: Overall: 39 1/4 x 22 1/8 x 63in., 680lb. (99.7 x 56.2 x 160cm, 308.4kg)