Wright R-2600

The Wright R-2600 Cyclone 14 (also called Twin Cyclone) was an American radial engine developed by Curtiss-Wright and widely used in aircraft in the 1930s and 1940s.

History

In 1935, Curtiss-Wright began work on a more powerful version of their successful R-1820 Cyclone 9. The result was R-2600 Twin Cyclone, with 14 cylinders arranged in two rows. The 1,600hp R-2600-3 was originally intended for the C-46 Commando and was fitted to the CW-20A prototype, but a running change led to the adoption of the 2,000hp Pratt & Whitney R-2800 in its place. The Twin Cyclone engine went on to power several key World War II production aircraft including the A-20 Havoc, B-25 Mitchell, TBF Avenger and SB2C Helldiver bombers, and the PBM Mariner flying boat.

Over 50,000 R-2600s were built at plants in Caldwell, New Jersey, and Cincinnati, Ohio.

Models/Variants

* R-2600-A5B: 1,500 hp (1,118 kW) , 1,600 hp (1,194 kW)
* R-2600-3: 1,600 hp (1,194 kW)
* R-2600-6: 1,600 hp (1,194 kW)
* R-2600-19: 1,600 hp (1,194 kW) , 1,660 hp (1,237 kW)
* R-2600-23: 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-2600-12: 1,700 hp (1,268 kW)
* R-2600-13: 1,700 hp (1,268 kW)
* R-2600-20: 1,700 hp (1,268 kW) , 1,900 hp (1,420 kW)
* R-2600-29: 1,700 (1,268 kW), 1,850 hp (1,380 kW)
* R-2600-20: 1,900 hp (1,420 kW)
* R-2600-22: 1,900 hp (1,420 kW)

pecifications (GR-2600-C14)

pistonspecs

type=14-cylinder supercharged air-cooled two-row radial engine
bore=6.125 in (155.6 mm)
stroke=6.312 in (160.2 mm)
displacement=2,603 in³ (42.7 L)
length=62.06 in (1,576 mm)
diameter=55 in (1,397 mm)
width=
height=
weight=2,045 lb (930 kg)
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
turbocharger=
fuelsystem=Stromberg PR48A downdraft carburetor with automatic mixture control
fueltype=
oilsystem=Dry sump with one pressure pump and two scavenge pumps
coolingsystem=Air-cooled
power=
*1,750 hp (1,305 kW) at 2,600 rpm at 3,200 ft (975 m) military power
*1,450 hp (1,080 kW) at 2,600 rpm at 15,000 ft (4,575 m) military power
specpower=0.67 hp/in³ (30.6 kW/L)
compression=6.9:1
fuelcon=
specfuelcon=
oilcon=
power/weight=0.86 hp/lb (1.40 kW/kg)

Applications

;FRA:
*Lioré et Olivier LeO 451;GBR:
*Miles Monitor;USA:
*Boeing 314
*Brewster SB2A Buccaneer
*Curtiss SB2C Helldiver
*Douglas A-20
*Douglas B-23 Dragon
*Grumman TBF Avenger
*Martin Baltimore
*Martin Mariner
*North American B-25 Mitchell
*Vultee A-31 Vengeance

ee also

Related development
* Wright Cyclone family
* Wright R-1300 Cyclone 7
* Wright R-1820 Cyclone 9
* Wright R-3350 Cyclone 18

Comparable engines
* BMW 801
* Bristol Hercules
* Pratt & Whitney R-1830
* Fiat A.74
* Gnome-Rhône 14N
* Mitsubishi Kinsei
* Nakajima Sakae
* Shvetsov ASh-82

References

* Bridgman, L, (ed.) (1998) "Jane's fighting aircraft of World War II." Crescent. ISBN 0-517-67964-7