Lawrance J-1, Radial 9 Engine
date: label: Date
content: Circa 1922
name: label: Designer
content: Lawrance Aero Engine Corp
label: Manufacturer
content: Wright Aeronautical
notes: label: Physical Description
content: Type: Reciprocating, 9 cylinders, radial, air-cooled
label: Physical Description
content: Power rating: 149 kW (200 hp) at 1,800 rpm
label: Physical Description
content: Displacement: 12.9 L (787 cu in)
label: Physical Description
content: Bore and Stroke: 114 mm (4.5 in.) x 140 mm (5.5 in.)
label: Physical Description
content: Weight: 202 kg (445 lb)
label: Summary
content: Charles Lawrance, originally a race car engine designer, built his first air-cooled aircraft engine in 1921 for a Navy contract. The J-1 was the first practical American radial and satisfied a Navy need for a compact lightweight engine for use on aircraft carriers, not plagued with water leakage problems.
label: Summary
content: Used in aircraft such as the Curtiss TS-1, the engine had superior performance, weighed less, and was easier to maintain than liquid-cooled engines in comparable aircraft. With encouragement from the Navy, Lawrance merged with Wright, and the J-1 developed into the famous Whirlwind series. Despite its higher initial cost relative to other engines available at the time, the Whirlwind’s reliability and lower operating cost resulted in widespread use.
label: Summary
content: The most famous Wright Whirlwind application was the 1927 New York-to-Paris flight of Charles Lindbergh. In 1928, Charles Lawrance was awarded the Collier Trophy for the outstanding performance of his engines based on records set in 1927.
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: Gift of the University of California, Berkeley
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Air and Space Museum
identifier: label: Inventory Number
content: A19860286000
objectType: label: Type
content: PROPULSION-Reciprocating & Rotary
objectRights: label: Restrictions & Rights
content: CC0
physicalDescription: label: Materials
content: Steel, Aluminum, Rubber, Wood, Paint, Preservative coating
label: Dimensions
content: Other: 43 1/2 x 42in. (110.5 x 106.7cm)
label: Dimensions
content: Approximate (Weight on stand): 365.1kg (805lb.)