Maryland Aerospace Heritage Center
Pratt & Whitney Engine R-2800-43
The R-2800 engine, known as the Double Wasp, is an 18-cylinder, air-cooled, radial piston engine, with a displacement of 2804 cu in and a dry weight of 2,360lb. The model -43, rated at 2,000hp, was built under license by the Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, MI; 12,559 of this model were built. It was used almost exclusively in the Martin B-26B and 26C Marauder. The Museum has two of these engines.
Restoration began with an exterior cleaning.
The engine was completely disassembled and all parts were cleaned; they were hand-sanded or sandblasted. Missing parts, such as spark plugs, carburetor, generator, magneto, and started were obtained. The parts were painted, the engine reassembled, and mounted on a stand.
Details of a spark plug wire (36 total) before and after.
