Wright Vertical 4, In-line 4 Engine
date: label: Date
content: 1906
name: label: Manufacturer
content: Wright Company (Dayton, Ohio)
notes: label: Physical Description
content: Engine Type: Reciprocating, 4 cylinders, in-line, water cooled
label: Physical Description
content: Power rating: 31 kW (42 hp) at 1,325 - 1,500 rpm
label: Physical Description
content: Displacement: 3.9 L (240 cu in.)
label: Physical Description
content: Bore and Stroke: 111 mm (4.375 in.) x 102 mm (4 in.)
label: Physical Description
content: Weight: 81.6 kg (180 lb.)
label: Summary
content: The Wright vertical four-cylinder engine was designed by Orville Wright in 1906. These engines, of which more were built than any other Wright Brothers' engine model, were produced until approximately 1912. They were used during the U.S. Army and European demonstrations, which were crucial to the success of the Wright brothers and their airplanes. An engine of this type powered the Vin Fiz, the first U.S. transcontinental aircraft, and Wright Model B aircraft. A Wright B1 was the U.S. Navy’s second aircraft, which was first flown by Orville Wright on July 15, 1911, and later converted to a “hydroaeroplane.”
label: Summary
content: This particular engine was a keepsake of Orville Wright for many years. Wright gave the engine to his close and trusted friend, Jim Jacobs, who had been a mechanic with the original Wright Company. In 1948, the engine was donated to the Smithsonian Institution by Jacobs' wife, Ruth.
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: National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC
label: Exhibition
content: Wright Brothers & The Invention of the Aerial Age
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Gift of the Family of James M. H. Jacobs
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Air and Space Museum
identifier: label: Inventory Number
content: A19620037000
objectType: label: Type
content: PROPULSION-Reciprocating & Rotary
objectRights: label: Restrictions & Rights
content: CC0
physicalDescription: label: Materials
content: Metal
label: Materials
content: Plastic
label: Materials
content: Coating
label: Dimensions
content: Overall: 1 m 3.5cm × 45.7cm × 68.6cm, 81.6kg (3 ft. 4.8 in. × 1 ft. 6 in. × 2 ft. 3 in., 180lb.)
label: Dimensions
content: Overall (Support (Each block)): 47.3cm × 7cm × 11.4cm (1 ft. 6.6 in. × 2.8 in. × 4.5 in.)