Wright Cyclone P-1, Radial 9 Engine
date: label: Date
content: Circa 1925
name: label: Manufacturer
content: Wright Aeronautical
notes: label: Physical Description
content: Type: Reciprocating, 9 cylinders, radial, air cooled
label: Physical Description
content: Power rating: 303 kW (406 hp) at 1,650 rpm
label: Physical Description
content: Displacement: 27.1 L (1,654 cu in.)
label: Physical Description
content: Bore and Stroke: 152 mm (6.0 in.) x 165 mm (6.5 in.)
label: Physical Description
content: Weight (dry): 368 kg (812 lb)
label: Summary
content: About the middle of 1923, the U.S. Navy signed a contract with Wright Aeronautical for three large air-cooled engine designs, which were to be built successively. The first of these, based on a design proposed earlier to the U.S. Army by Charles Lawrance, was known as the P-1, and was the direct forerunner of the highly successful Wright Cyclone series of engines. In order to reduce aerodynamic drag, its design was limited to a frontal area no greater than that of the Navy's Lawrance J engine, despite the fact that the P-1 had twice the displacement.
label: Summary
content: The P-1 was tested extensively in 1924 in a Douglas DT-2 aircraft, and flown successfully in the Navy Douglas DT-6 and Boeing aircraft. However, magnesium alloy castings, being used for the first time, failed in endurance tests. The P-1 was then discontinued in favor of the larger P-2, which added Heron-type cylinders and a supercharger.
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: A19710881000
objectType: label: Type
content: PROPULSION-Reciprocating & Rotary
objectRights: label: Restrictions & Rights
content: CC0
physicalDescription: label: Materials
content: Steel, Aluminum, Brass, Copper, Cadmium plating, Paint, Preservative coating, Magnesium, Rubber
label: Dimensions
content: Diameter 121.9 cm (48 in.), Length 116.8 cm (46 in.)