Wright R-790 Whirlwind

The Wright J -5 ( also military Wright R -790 ) is an air-cooled 9-cylinder radial engine of the U.S. manufacturer Wright Aeronautical.

The engine is based on the crankshaft drive of the Lawrance J -1 of the Lawrance Aero Engine Corporation, but has evolved over the development line Wright and Wright J-3 J-4. Samuel D. Heron designed 1925 new cylinder heads for the J- fourth He received the new designation J- fifth A propeller - gear reducer was not applied. The first series engines were delivered on July 7, 1926 the U.S. Navy.

The engine quickly acquired the fame of absolute reliability and great efficiency. This was the reason for Charles Lindbergh to use a Wright J -5 engine at its Atlantic crossing. 1935 with a Curtiss Robin J -1D, which was also equipped with the J -5, the set up today valid world record in manned flight duration engine. Were Fred and Algene Key, with refueling, 653 hours and 34 minutes continuously in the air.

There were still the R 790-3 constructive with various improvements and R 790-5 built next to the basic version R -790 -1, which corresponded to the R -790 -3, however, had a shielded ignition system and a generator drive shaft had.

The J -5, were delivered from the at least 424 pieces and remained in production until 1930, eventually was carried out in three versions as 5 -, 7 - and 9- cylinder Wright J-6 produced replaced.

Use

Wright J- 5 was used in a number of planes as a drive. In particular, it was also used in prototypes used.

  • Atlantic C-2
  • Consolidated PT-3
  • Consolidated NY
  • Consolidated N3Y
  • Dayton -Wright XPS -1
  • Douglas O -14
  • Fokker F.VII
  • Ford Trimotor 5 - AT
  • Ford C-3
  • Keystone O -15
  • Keystone NK
  • Naval Aircraft Factory N3N
  • Spirit of St. Louis
  • Stearmann NS

Specifications

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