While other approaches were tried (liquid-cooled radials, and air-cooled inlines) they were not major factors. In the main, all power requirements were met with radial air-cooled engines and inline liquid-cooled engines. The big Pratt & Whitney R-2800 radial’s turbosupercharger exhaust fairing lies beneath the fuselage just below the national insignia. The effect of this high supercharged power rating was lower engine life, with time between overhauls ranging from 50 to 500 hours.ĭuring World War II, the P-47 served in almost every active war theater and in the forces of several Allied nations. This focused attention on small design details because of the resultant higher stresses and temperatures.Ĭonsequently, the engines used early in World War II often had up to two stages of supercharging, with the pilot able to select from two different supercharger impeller speeds. ![]() ![]() Engine design had to become more sophisticated as greater power was sought at higher engine rotating speeds. By 19, 2,000 hp engines were specified for fighters and bombers. While other approaches were tried (liquid-cooled radials, and air-cooled inlines) they were not major factors.įor many fighters and bombers, engines of at least 1,000 horsepower were specified in the procurements of the mid-1930s. This push for power via increased supercharger pressure ratios and engine compression ratios also required improvements in fuel quality. Many of the engines which would see service in World War II started production in 1935.Įngine design was driven by the push for altitude capability, where thinner air placed great emphasis on the supercharger. Engineers began anticipating the engines that would be required for what became the aircraft of World War II as early as 1930, with some preceding that.
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