| R-2600 | |
|---|---|
Wright R-2600 Cyclone radial engine | |
| Type | Radial engine |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Wright Aeronautical |
| First run | 1935 |
| Major applications | |
| Manufactured | February 1937–January 1946 |
| Number built | 85,374 |
| Developed from | Wright R-1820 Cyclone |
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.
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.
The Twin Cyclone went on to power several important American World War II aircraft, including the A-20 Havoc, B-25 Mitchell, TBF Avenger, SB2C Helldiver, and the PBM Mariner.
Over 50,000 R-2600s were built at plants in Paterson, New Jersey, and Cincinnati, Ohio.
The following is a list of known R-2600 models. Engines would receive a three-part designation from Curtiss-Wright. For example, "R-2600-1;" the "R" indicating a "radial engine," "2600" indicating an engine displacement of 2,600 cu in (43 L), and "1" indicating the internal model number, usually assigned chronologically. Engines accepted by the U.S. government were assigned a separate, three-part governmental designation. For example, the "R-2600-13" was accepted into service as the "GR-2600-B655;" the "GR" indicating a "(geared) radial engine," the "2600" indicating an engine displacement of 2,600 cu in (43 L), and "B655" indicating the governmental model number. The Curtiss-Wright designation is usually utilized more often than the governmental designation, and the U.S. government utilized both designations interchangeably and often together.
The Curtiss-Wright designation will be listed first, followed by the — when known — governmental designation in parentheses (the lack of a governmental designation does not indicate that the model was not accepted into governmental service). Engines known only by their governmental designation will be listed at the bottom.



Data from Jane's.
Related development
Comparable engines
Related lists
The prototype R-2600-2, rated at 1,500hp for take-off ...
... for the RAF, 19 were experimentally fitted with R-2600-4-53 Cyclones ... engines of 1650 hp.
[...] the R-2600-5 (or -A79) is of interest as it introduced a three-speed supercharger.
Powered by two 1,700 hp. Wright R-2600-9 Cyclone radial engines.
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.
...GR-2600-B655...
R-2600-13... Power rating: 1,268 kW (1,700 hp) at 2,600 rpm...
...Wright R-2600-13, 1700 h.p....
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)R-2600-13 powered the: Brewster SB2A-4; Curtiss P-37; Douglas A-24A/B/C; Martin A-30A/B; North American XB-25E/F/G, B-25C/D/G/H/J, CB-25J, TB-25J, and F-10; Northrop A-35; Lockheed B-37; Short Brothers Stirling; Vega O-56; and Vultee A-31A, Vultee XA-35A, A-35A/B.
Data For: PBJ-1D... Power Plant: Two Wright R-2600-13, 1700 h.p....
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)R-2600-13 powered the: Brewster SB2A-4; Curtiss P-37; Douglas A-24A/B/C; Martin A-30A/B; North American XB-25E/F/G, B-25C/D/G/H/J, CB-25J, TB-25J, and F-10; Northrop A-35; Lockheed B-37; Short Brothers Stirling; Vega O-56; and Vultee A-31A, Vultee XA-35A, A-35A/B. A total of 13,494 R-2600-13 engines were built between April 1941 and January 1944... Power rating: 1,268 kW (1,700 hp) at 2,600 rpm...
Both the Army and Navy planned to use Wright R-2600 engines with advanced supercharging... XF7F-1 engineering design began in late spring 1942, with mockup inspection in September. By summer 1943, production was being negotiated and a major engine change from Wright's R-2600 to the Pratt and Whitney R-2800 eliminated supporting an engine model unique to the F7F...
XF6F-2*... This designation was used twice... Intended to be powered by turbocharged version of Wright R-2600-16, instead re-engined with R-2800.
...clean design was maintained in the Vengeance, though the cranked wing panton made some observers think (wrongly) that the aircraft's centre of gravity had given problems. Power was provided by a 1,600hp Cyclone R-2600-9 or 1,700hp R-2600-17.
...the XSB2C-6 was an attempt to solve this problem. Wright developed the R-2600-22 which developed 2,100 horsepower for takeoff...
An upgrade to 1,900hp R-2600-22 engines...
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: periodical has ISBN (link)...the XSB2C-6 was an attempt to solve this problem. Wright developed the R-2600-22 which developed 2,100 horsepower for takeoff...
Engine take-off horse power [sic]... 2,100... Engine...R-2600-22
R-2600-23... 91 Octane... Sea level... 1600 hp...
The A-20G was the most widely produced version of the series, a total of 2,850 being built at Douglas's Santa Monica plant in 1943 and 1944. Influenced largely by Pacific-based A-20As and Cs, the G model introduced a solid nose equipped initially with four fixed 20-mm and two .50-caliber machine guns, along with R-2600-23 engines uprated to 1,675-hp.
R-2600-25 has a 100 per cent normal rated hp. of 1,350 at 2,300 r.p.m. with a manifold pressure of 37.0 "Hg at 5,800' altitude...
...the 2,000-hp Pratt & Whitney R-2600-27 engine.
R-2600-29... Take-off... HP... 1700...
...1,700hp Wright R-2600 29...
R-2600-29 — 1.850 hp (1.380 kW)
R-2600-29 — 1,850 hp (1,380 kW)
PBJ-1J... Powerplants: Two 1,700hp Wright R-2600 29...
R-2600-29A/35
...R-2600-33...
PBM-5 — two 2100hp (1566kW) R-2600-34; four-bladed propellers.
R-2600-29... Take-off... HP... 1700...
R-2600-29 — 1.850 hp (1.380 kW)
R-2600-29 — 1,850 hp (1,380 kW)
R-2600-29A/35
NA-40-2/B - The engines were replaced by two 1,340 hp. Wright GR-2600-A71 Cyclone radial engines.
PBM-5 — two 2100hp (1566kW) R-2600-34; four-bladed propellers.
Media related to Wright R-2600 at Wikimedia Commons