To help you get your gears in motion this week, here’s the Pratt & Whitney R-4360 “Wasp Major” with up to 3,500 hp. This 28-cylinder, air-cooled radial engine in Hangar 4 can also be found on such aircraft at Pima as the B-50 Superfortress, B-36 Peacemaker, C-97 Stratofreighter, C-119 Flying Boxcar, and C-124 Globemaster II. Music by Sam Marshall - Colors | Pima Air and Space Museum

A radial engine is a type of internal combustion engine where the cylinders are arranged in a circle around a central crankshaft. This design is commonly used in aircraft due to its compact structure and ability to be air-cooled effectively. The radial layout ensures even weight distribution and strong performance, making it popular in early aviation. The engine works by having each cylinder fire in a specific sequence, with each piston driving the crankshaft. A master-and-slave rod system conne