| V-1710 | |
|---|---|
| |
| An early Allison V-1710 engine (V-1710-7) | |
| Type | Liquid-cooled V-12 piston engine |
| Manufacturer | Allison Engine Company |
| First run | 1930 |
| Major applications | Bell P-39 Airacobra Curtiss P-40 Warhawk Lockheed P-38 Lightning North American P-51 Mustang North American F-82 Twin Mustang |
| Number built | 69,305 |
| Developed into | Allison V-3420 |
The Allison V-1710 aircraft engine designed and produced by the Allison Engine Company was the only US-developed V-12 liquid-cooled engine to see service during World War II. Versions with a turbocharger gave excellent performance at high altitude in the twin-engined Lockheed P-38 Lightning, and turbo-superchargers were fitted to experimental single-engined fighters with similar results.
The United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) preference for turbochargers early in the V-1710's development program meant that less effort was spent on developing suitable mechanically driven centrifugal superchargers for the Allison V-12 design, as other V-12 designs from friendly nations like the British Rolls-Royce Merlin were already using.
When smaller-dimensioned or lower-cost versions of the V-1710 were desired, they generally had poor performance at higher altitudes. The V-1710 nevertheless gave excellent service when turbocharged, notably in the P-38 Lightning, which accounted for much of the extensive production run.