P&W R4360 Wasp Major

The Pratt & Whitney R-4360 Wasp Major was an American 28-cylinder four-row radial piston aircraft engine. Designed and built during World War II, it was the largest piston engine to be mass-produced in the United States. It was the last of the Pratt & Whitney Wasp family, and the culmination of its maker's piston engine technology.

New aircraft designs at the end of World War II included larger commercial aircraft, larger bombers, larger everything. The R4360 was designed specifically for the C97/Stratocruiser, C-119, B-50 and B-36, maximizing the growth potential of the piston engine,. 

On paper it seemed like absolute perfection, but in real life it was, problematic (mechanics, stop laughing). Heating was a big problem, requiring cowl flaps so big they were a real detrement to performance. The supercharger was geared up to 6:1, while the wide-span propellers were geared down to 0.375:1. Two cylinders were as big as your car's V8. In addition to the supercharger, there were two turborchargers. It took a lot of work to make 3500 hp!

The maintenance was as complex as the design and extended down time resulted. There were lots of ideas on how to fix it, but one thing everyone agreed on- the engine just wasn't reliable. Enter the jet. Orders for Stratocruisers stopped while orders for the Stratojet poured in. The Boeing design 377 was just too large for smaller airlines, so you would think they went directly to freighters. Well, cargo airlines live on a razor-edge budget, and expensive operating costs could not be overcome by limited freight income. So, most Stratocruisers went to the desert or jungle, homes for poisonious snakes and the like, until they were broken down and reborn into something else. Everyone hold up your aluminum beer can- this one's for you, Mr. Wasp Major.

 

 

---

Click for News Center

Flight	Pilot	Departure	Arrival	Aircraft	Duration	V/S	Info
AMX1647	Henry D	MMLP	MMAA	DC-6B	03.14	-117 ft/m	Pending
FEX6468	Anthony P	KMEM	KMCI	B727-200	01.53	-377 ft/m	Pending
WCA14869	Zandefer W	KMKE	KRAC	L10	.19	0 ft/m	Pending
AAL686	Paul B	KLAX	KBOS	DC10-10	6.05	0 ft/m	Pending
BOA2896	Panos T	OPKC	VECC	Britannia	04.04	-115 ft/m	Accepted
BEA2029	John S	EGLL	EGJB	DH 89 Dragon	1.16	0 ft/m	Accepted
UPS14362	Greg V	KONT	ZGSZ	B747-200	14.15	-255 ft/m	Accepted
AAL651	Paul B	KBOS	KLAX	DC10-10	6.55	0 ft/m	Accepted
BNF2766	Kurt N	MMMX	KSAT	DC8-50	2.05	0 ft/m	Accepted
CRZ4166	Herman K	SBEG	SBBR	Caravelle	2.55	0 ft/m	Accepted

Pilot	Flight	Dep	Arrival	Status	Alt	Distance/Time