Part two of the Quest for Power series breaks down rotary and radial engines, why circular layouts solved cooling and reliability, and why they also came with nasty tradeoffs. From WWI rotaries to ...

During World War II the radial engine was popular, and it was used in many fighter and bomber aircraft. Manufacturers in aviation used them because the engines deliver a ton of power for their size, ...

In 1925, the Wasp was a leap forward in aircraft power, reliability, and performance – one that rocketed the trajectory of aviation technology into the post-war era. Its nine-cylinder, air-cooled ...