Wright XR-2120, Radial 12 Engine, Cutaway
date: label: Date
content: Circa 1933
name: label: Manufacturer
content: Wright Aeronautical
notes: label: Physical Description
content: Type: Reciprocating, 12 cylinders, 2 rows, radial, liquid cooled
label: Physical Description
content: Power rating: 746 kW (1,000 hp) at 2,400 rpm
label: Physical Description
content: Displacement: 34.7 L (2,120 cu in.)
label: Physical Description
content: Bore and Stroke: Not available
label: Physical Description
content: Weight: 544 kg (1,200 lb)
label: Summary
content: In the early 1930s, the Navy supported Wright development of two new liquid-cooled engines, the XR-2120 (H-2120) and the V-1800. This was part of a "high-speed development program" undertaken by the Navy because of concern over the growing superiority of foreign airplanes in top speed, especially as demonstrated in the 1929 Schneider Trophy contest and again in 1931.
label: Summary
content: First of the two engines and derived from the Curtiss H-1640, it was anticipated that the XR-2120 design, with liquid cooling and enlarged cylinders, would make a good racing engine. The small diameter of the engine, considered important for drag reduction, proved to be difficult to develop due to excessive angularity of the connecting rods and other problems. The Navy withdrew support from the project, primarily because it decided to focus on the development of air-cooled engines. Convinced that the design was mechanically poor, Wright made little effort to persuade the Navy to change its decision and dropped the project.
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: A19710896000
objectType: label: Type
content: PROPULSION-Reciprocating & Rotary
objectRights: label: Restrictions & Rights
content: CC0
physicalDescription: label: Materials
content: Steel, Aluminum, Rubber, Textile, Magnesium, Paint, Stainless Steel
label: Dimensions
content: Approximate: 160 × 167.6 × 147.3cm (63 × 66 × 58 in.)
label: Dimensions
content: Approximate (Weighed with Stand): 694kg (1530lb.)
label: Dimensions
content: Depth 160 cm (63 in.), Length 167.6 cm (66 in.), Width 147.3 cm (58 in.)