The Wright R-2600 Cyclone 14 (also called Twin Cyclone) is an American radial engine developed by Curtiss-Wright and widely used in aircraft in the 1930s and 1940s.
| R-2600 | |
|---|---|
| |
| Wright R-2600 Cyclone radial engine | |
| Type | Radial engine |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Wright Aeronautical |
| First run | 1935 |
| Major applications | |
| Number built | 85,374[1] |
| Developed from | Wright R-1820 |
History
editIn 1935, Curtiss-Wright began work on a more powerful version of their successful R-1820 Cyclone 9. The result was the R-2600 Twin Cyclone, with 14 cylinders arranged in two rows. The 1,600 hp (1,200 kW; 1,600 PS) R-2600-3 was originally intended for the C-46 Commando (being fitted to the prototype CW-20A). It was also the original engine choice for the F6F Hellcat; a running change (one which would not stop production) for the CW-20A, and one in late April 1942 for the second XF6F-1, led to the adoption of the 2,000 hp (1,500 kW; 2,000 PS) Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp in the R-2600's place for both designs.
The Twin Cyclone went on to power several important American World War II aircraft, including the A-20 Havoc, B-25 Mitchell, TBF Avenger, SB2C Helldiver, and the PBM Mariner.
Over 50,000 R-2600s were built at plants in Paterson, New Jersey, and Cincinnati, Ohio.
Variants
edit- R-2600-1 - 1,600 hp (1,194 kW)
- R-2600-2 - 1,500 hp (1,118 kW)- Prototype variant; Few were made.[2]
- R-2600-3 - 1,600 hp (1,194 kW)
- R-2600-4 - 1,650 hp (1,230 kW)[3]
- R-2600-6 - 1,600 hp (1,194 kW)
- R-2600-8 - 1,700 hp (1,268 kW)
- R-2600-9 - 1,700 hp (1,268 kW)
- R-2600-10 - 1,700 hp (1,268 kW)- Experimental high-altitude R-2600 variant with a two-stage mechanical supercharger, vs the usual single-stage supercharger. The 2600-10 also served as a testbed for turbo-supercharging the 2600 series. Very few were produced.[4][5]
- R-2600-11 - 1,600 hp (1,194 kW)[6]
- R-2600-12 - 1,700 hp (1,268 kW)
- R-2600-13 - 1,700 hp (1,268 kW)
- R-2600-14 - 1,700 hp (1,268 kW)- One of the engines which powered Grumman's prototype F6Fs, the XF6F-1 (the two-stage supercharged R-2600-10 was also tested in the XF6F-1). Grumman was not happy with the performance, which led to the 2,000 hp Pratt & Whitney R-2800 engine replacing the R-2600 on F6F production models.[7]
- R-2600-15 - 1,800 hp (1,342 kW)- Planned to power the XB-33A, a prototype model of the B-33 Super Marauder (itself a high-altitude version of the B-26 Marauder). The project was cancelled, and neither the prototype XB-33A or production B-33A were ever built.[8]
- R-2600-16 - 1,700 hp (1,268 kW)- Similar to the R-2600-10 & -14, the -16 powered a Grumman prototype F6F, the XF6F-2.[9]
- R-2600-19 - 1,600 hp (1,194 kW), 1,660 hp (1,237 kW)
- R-2600-20 - 1,700 hp (1,268 kW), 1,900 hp (1,420 kW)
- R-2600-22 - 1,900 hp (1,420 kW)
- R-2600-23 - 1,600 hp (1,194 kW)
- R-2600-29 - 1,700 hp (1,268 kW), 1,850 hp (1,380 kW)
- GR-2600-A5B - 1,500 hp (1,118 kW), 1,600 hp (1,194 kW), 1,700 hp (1,268 kW)
- GR-2600-A71 - 1,300 hp (969 kW)
- GR-2600-C14 - 1,750 hp (1,304 kW)
Applications
edit
- Boeing 314 Clipper
- Brewster SB2A Buccaneer
- Curtiss SB2C Helldiver
- Douglas A-20 Havoc
- Douglas B-23 Dragon
- Grumman F6F Hellcat (XF6F-1 & -2 prototypes only, pre-April 1942)
- Grumman TBF Avenger
- Lioré et Olivier LeO 451
- Martin Baltimore
- Martin PBM Mariner (versions prior to Double Wasp-powered PBM-5)
- Miles Monitor
- North American B-25 Mitchell
- Vultee A-31 Vengeance
Specifications (GR-2600-C14BB)
editData from Jane's.[10]
General characteristics
- Type: 14-cylinder supercharged air-cooled two-row radial engine
- Bore: 6+1⁄8 in (155.6 mm)
- Stroke: 6+5⁄16 in (160.3 mm)
- Displacement: 2,604 cu in (42.67 L)
- Length: 62.06 in (1,576 mm)
- Diameter: 55 in (1,397 mm)
- Dry weight: 2,045 lb (928 kg)
Components
- Valvetrain: Two pushrod-actuated valves per cylinder with sodium-cooled exhaust valve
- Supercharger: Single-stage two-speed centrifugal type supercharger, impeller diameter 11 in (280 mm), blower ratio 7.06:1 at slow speed and 10.06:1 at high speed
- Fuel system: Stromberg PR48A downdraft carburetor with automatic mixture control
- Oil system: Dry sump with one pressure pump and two scavenge pumps
- Cooling system: Air-cooled
Performance
- Power output:
- 1,750 hp (1,300 kW) at 2,600 rpm at 3,200 ft (1,000 m) military power
- 1,450 hp (1,080 kW) at 2,600 rpm at 15,000 ft (4,600 m) military power
- Specific power: 0.67 hp/cu in (30 kW/L)
- Compression ratio: 6.9:1
- Power-to-weight ratio: 0.86 hp/lb (1.41 kW/kg)
See also
edit- Gunderson Do-All Machine - incorporates an R-2600 into an educational network of machines that is also kinetic art.
Related development
- Wright Cyclone series
- Wright R-1300 Cyclone 7
- Wright R-1820 Cyclone
- Wright R-3350 Duplex-Cyclone
- Hispano-Suiza 14AA
Comparable engines
- BMW 801
- Bristol Hercules
- Fiat A.74
- Gnome-Rhône 14N
- Mitsubishi Kasei
- Pratt & Whitney R-2800
- Shvetsov ASh-82 - derived and metricated from Wright Aeronautical radial engine designs[11]
Related lists
References
editNotes
edit- ^ "SUMMARY OF WRIGHT ENGINE SHIPMENTS 1920 – 1930" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-10-10. Retrieved 2023-09-18.
- ^ Friedman, Norman (30 October 2016). Fighters Over the Fleet Naval Air Defence from Biplanes to the Cold War (1 ed.). Pen & Sword Books. p. 61. ISBN 9781848324060.
The prototype R-2600-2, rated at 1,500hp for take-off ...
- ^ "Teesside Aviation News" (PDF) (Press release). Teesside, UK: Teesside Aviation Society. 1982-11-01. Retrieved 2021-04-06.
... for the RAF, 19 were experimentally fitted with R-2600-4-53 Cyclones ... engines of 1650 hp.
- ^ Francillon, Renè (1989). Grumman Aircraft Since 1929. Putnam Aeronautical. p. 196. ISBN 9780851778358. Retrieved 2021-04-03.
- ^ Grossnick, Roy (1995). "Appendix 1: Aircraft Data—Technical Information and Drawings" (PDF). TBF/TBM Avenger. Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons. Vol. I: The History of VA, VAH, VAK, VAL, VAP, and VFA Squadrons. Washington Navy Yard, Washington D.C.: Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy. p. 512. ISBN 0-945274-29-7. Retrieved 2021-04-03 – via Naval History and Heritage Command.
- ^ United States Civil Aeronautics Administration Aircraft Listing. United States Civil Aeronautics Administration. 1949. p. 68. Retrieved 2021-04-03.
- ^ Thomas, Cleaver (19 Oct 2017). "The Pacific Theater". Pacific Thunder The US Navy's Central Pacific Campaign, August 1943–October 1944 (1 ed.). Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 45. ISBN 9781472821867.
The XF6F-1 was powered by the Wright R-2600 14- cylinder Twin Cyclone radial engine. After meeting O'Hare, Grumman suggested a power increase which ... put the super new Pratt & Whitney R-2800 ... in the second prototype.
- ^ Andrade 1979, p 51
- ^ Thruelsen 1976, p 193
- ^ Jane's 1998, p. 317.
- ^ Liss, Witold (1967). The Lavochkin La 5 & 7. Aircraft Profiles. Vol. 149. Leatherhead, Surrey, UK: Profile Publications. p. 3.
Bibliography
edit- Andrade, John (1979). U.S.Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909. Midland Counties Publications. ISBN 0-904597-22-9.
- Bridgman, Leonard, ed. (1998). Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War II. London: Studio Editions Ltd. ISBN 0-517-67964-7.
- Gunston, Bill (2006). World Encyclopedia of Aero Engines: From the Pioneers to the Present Day (5th ed.). Stroud, UK: Sutton. ISBN 0-7509-4479-X.
- Thruelsen, Richard (1976). The Grumman Story. New York: Praeger Publishers. ISBN 0-275-54260-2.
- White, Graham (1995). Allied Aircraft Piston Engines of World War II: History and Development of Frontline Aircraft Piston Engines Produced by Great Britain and the United States During World War II. Warrendale, Pennsylvania: SAE International. ISBN 1-56091-655-9.
External links
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Media related to Wright R-2600 at Wikimedia Commons