The Wright R-1820 Cyclone and the Boeing B-17 (The POOR MAN'S HANGAR TOUR--Episode 2)

This is Episode 2 of our 10-episode Poor Man’s Hangar Tour series. This Series highlights the evolution of the MAJOR radial aircraft engines and the best-known aircraft each powered. In this episode we continue our climb up the horsepower food chain and highlight the development and evolution of the 9-cylinder Curtiss Wright R-1820 Cyclone, and showcase its most well-known application, the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bomber of World War II, and honor its combat crews who paid the ultimate price. Planned subsequent episodes will move further up the horsepower ladder culminating with the 3,800 horsepower, 28-cylinder Pratt & Whitney R-4360 Wasp Major that powered the C-124C Globemaster II and the Convair B-36J Peacemaker strategic bomber that were both dominant in the 1950s.

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John A. Reed
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