This cut-away model of the Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp engine was produced to reveal the interior mechanisms of this power plant.  It even has an electric motor to animate the moving parts so the interaction of the parts can be observed.  More than likely, this cut-away was produced to aid in the training of air crew or maintenance personnel.

Over 125,000 R-2800 engines of various versions were produced.  Many were manufactured under license from Pratt & Whitney during WW II by a number of other manufacturers such as Ford, Nash, Chevrolet, etc.  The engines powered a wide variety of military aircraft including the Navy's famous F4U Corsair and F6F Hellcat.  A few civilian aircraft used this engine as well.

This cut-away engine represents a version of the R-2800 that powered an Army Air Corps bomber, possibly the A-26 Invader, and was manufactured by The Ford Motor Company.

The pains-taking restoration of the engine has been on-going for several months, but it is now complete, and it has been moved to the Midway.

Two restoration volunteers, Ed Martin and Lou Gutzman, did most of the work and have done a superb job.

Links To More R-2800 Information

• Pratt & Whitney's R-2800 Web Page See a list of aircraft that used the R-2800.

• The Aviation History On-Line Museum's R-2800 Web Page

• Recommended reading: "R-2800: Pratt & Whitney's Dependable Masterpiece" by Graham White.