1903
1910
1929
1932
1937
1937
Curtiss OX-5
One of the first widely produced American aircraft engines, the Curtiss OX-5 powered many training and civilian aircraft in the 1910s and early 1920s. It helped standardize early engine manufacturing at a time when most powerplants were still experimental. Though modest in power, it played a major role in expanding early aviation beyond just demonstrations.
Pratt & Whitney R-985 Wasp Junior
A compact and dependable 9-cylinder radial engine used on light transports, trainers, and utility aircraft. Its reliability and simplicity made it a favorite for regional operators and bush pilots during aviation’s expansion years. The R-985 helped bridge small-scale flight into more organized commercial and charter operations.
Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp
One of the most powerful piston engines ever built, used on aircraft like the Boeing 377 Stratocruiser. It marked the peak and limits of piston-engine airliner development before jets took over. Its complexity and maintenance demands showed how far piston technology had been pushed.
Wright R-3350 Duplex-Cyclone
A powerhouse 18-cylinder radial that defined late-WWII air power, and later powered commercial icons like the Douglas DC-6, Lockheed Constellation, and Convair CV-240 series. It became the go-to engine for airlines transitioning from wartime tech to dependable post-war passenger flying.