| Whirlwind series | |
|---|---|
| |
| Partially sectioned Wright J-4B at Canada Aviation Museum | |
| Type | Air-cooled radial piston engine |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Wright Aeronautical |
The Wright Whirlwind was a family of air-cooled radial aircraft engines built by Wright Aeronautical (originally an independent company, later a division of Curtiss-Wright). The family began with nine-cylinder engines, and later expanded to include five-cylinder and seven-cylinder varieties. Fourteen-cylinder twin-row versions were also developed, but these were not commercially produced.
The Whirlwind series was succeeded by more powerful but still air-cooled radial aero engines, notably the Pratt & Whitney Wasp series and the Wright Cyclone series.