The Wright R-2600 Cyclone 14 (also called Twin Cyclone) is an American
radial engine developed by
Curtiss-Wright and widely used in aircraft in the 1930s and 1940s.
History
In 1935, Curtiss-Wright began work on a more powerful version of their successful
R-1820 Cyclone 9. The result was the R-2600 Twin Cyclone, with 14 cylinders arranged in two rows. The 1,600
hp (1,200
kW; 1,600
PS) R-2600-3 was originally intended for the
C-46 Commando (being fitted to the prototype CW-20A). It was also the original engine choice for the
F6F Hellcat; a running change (one which would not stop production) for the CW-20A, and one in late April 1942 for the second XF6F-1, led to the adoption of the 2,000 hp (1,500 kW; 2,000 PS)
Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp in the R-2600's place for both designs.
R-2600-10 - 1,700 hp (1,268 kW)- Experimental high-altitude R-2600 variant with a two-stage mechanical
supercharger, vs the usual single-stage supercharger. The 2600-10 also served as a testbed for
turbo-supercharging the 2600 series. Very few were produced.[4][5]
R-2600-14 - 1,700 hp (1,268 kW)- One of the engines which powered
Grumman's prototype
F6Fs, the XF6F-1 (the two-stage supercharged R-2600-10 was also tested in the XF6F-1). Grumman was not happy with the performance, which led to the 2,000 hp
Pratt & WhitneyR-2800 engine replacing the R-2600 on F6F production models.[7]
R-2600-15 - 1,800 hp (1,342 kW)- Planned to power the XB-33A, a prototype model of the
B-33 Super Marauder (itself a high-altitude version of the
B-26 Marauder). The project was cancelled, and neither the prototype XB-33A or production B-33A were ever built.[8]
R-2600-16 - 1,700 hp (1,268 kW)- Similar to the R-2600-10 & -14, the -16 powered a
Grumman prototype
F6F, the XF6F-2.[9]
R-2600-19 - 1,600 hp (1,194 kW), 1,660 hp (1,237 kW)
R-2600-20 - 1,700 hp (1,268 kW), 1,900 hp (1,420 kW)
R-2600-22 - 1,900 hp (1,420 kW)
R-2600-23 - 1,600 hp (1,194 kW)
R-2600-29 - 1,700 hp (1,268 kW), 1,850 hp (1,380 kW)
GR-2600-A5B - 1,500 hp (1,118 kW), 1,600 hp (1,194 kW), 1,700 hp (1,268 kW)
^Thomas, Cleaver (19 Oct 2017). "The Pacific Theater".
Pacific Thunder The US Navy's Central Pacific Campaign, August 1943–October 1944 (1 ed.). Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 45.
ISBN9781472821867. The XF6F-1 was powered by the Wright R-2600 14- cylinder Twin Cyclone radial engine. After meeting O'Hare, Grumman suggested a power increase which ... put the super new Pratt & Whitney R-2800 ... in the second prototype.
^Liss, Witold (1967). The Lavochkin La 5 & 7. Aircraft Profiles. Vol. 149. Leatherhead, Surrey, UK: Profile Publications. p. 3.
Bibliography
Andrade, John (1979). U.S.Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909. Midland Counties Publications.
ISBN0-904597-22-9.
Bridgman, Leonard, ed. (1998). Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War II. London: Studio Editions Ltd.
ISBN0-517-67964-7.
Gunston, Bill (2006). World Encyclopedia of Aero Engines: From the Pioneers to the Present Day (5th ed.). Stroud, UK: Sutton.
ISBN0-7509-4479-X.
Thruelsen, Richard (1976). The Grumman Story. New York: Praeger Publishers.
ISBN0-275-54260-2.
White, Graham (1995). Allied Aircraft Piston Engines of World War II: History and Development of Frontline Aircraft Piston Engines Produced by Great Britain and the United States During World War II. Warrendale, Pennsylvania: SAE International.
ISBN1-56091-655-9.