Warbird Information Exchange

Someone on here's gonna know this...

During wartime, the Studebaker Corporation built thousands of Wright R1820 single-row Cyclone engines for B-17s. My query: do any of the Stude-built Cyclones survive, either in running condition or static? Or is it even possible to tell a Stude-built engine from one built by Wright itself?

Reason for the query is partly plain curiosity, but also partly the fact that since last fall I've owned one of Studebaker's cars, a '62 Lark built in the company's plant (still standing) here in Hamilton, and am since hunting all manner of Studebaker-related info and trivia...incidentally the connection between Curtiss-Wright and Studebaker did not stop with the wartime Cyclones, C-W actually having run Stude for a period in the late 50s.

S.

One of FHC's engines is a Stude.

Norm

Chuckie has one thats still running

_________________
http://www.fighterfactory.com/
http://www.militaryaviationmuseum.org/



Jon

I believe EVG's B-17 has em. Not that it flies.

_________________
Don't touch my junk!!

Wow that was fast! Thanks much.

S.

Thunderbird has 4- As far as I know the only way to tell is the nameplate on the engine.

Pherhaps there is someone out there that knows more on the subject.

Steve S

"Sentimental Journey" had at least one hanging on it when it was here last summer. I say at least one because that was the only one I paid any attention to.

_________________
"They can teach MONKEYS to fly better than that"

http://www.heritageflight.org
http://www.bravo369.org

I think Yankee Lady may as well.

Robert Morgan talks about them in his book. He says that he wasn't a fan of them, and gives a nod to his crew chief for managing to keep only Wright-made ones on the Belle.

_________________
"Anyway, the throat feels a bit rough...the legs have gone...but I'm still able to chant, so let's get going."

Joe Strummer, 1999

Not sure if they are going back on, I remember hearing that the afm had some others already made up.

I also remember that I heard that the Studs were not the engines that flew the Belle to Memphis from the boneyard; that they were changed out some time later. I don't think one of the Studs was internally complete either.

I think Aluminum Overcast had at least one as well.

_________________
Zane Adams
There I was at 20,000 ft, upside down and out of ammunition.
_______________________________________________________________________________
Join us for the Texas Warbird Report on WarbirdRadio.com!
http://www.facebook.com/WarbirdRadio
Listen at http://www.warbirdradio.com

Liberty Belles are Studebakers as noted on the engine data plates.

Just an observation; Unless the engine was a zero time simce new and carrying the Studebaker data plate, it can't necessarily be a Studebaker engine. But yes. the nose case to which the data plate is attached is a genuine Studebaker product. When these engines were overhauled at the depot level, the parts were interchanged among engines when they were reassembled, IIRC.

_________________
It's what you learn after you think you know it all, that counts.

Can we make a list of automotive company engine manufacturers? Help us out.

Dodge - R-3350
Ford - R-4360
Studebaker - R-1820
Packard - V-1650

Buick built the B-24's engines. And Chevrolet built the later, good 3350s.

Tallichet's B-17 had one on I think #2 at one time. The Belle when complete will have all Wrights on it.

_________________
Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director