R-4360: Pratt & Whitney's Major Miracle Paperback – February 14, 2006

I love this book. It is wonderfully illustrated and full of technical information about the R-4360, including the details of installations in a variety of aircraft; anecdotes from personnel; comparisons to other powerplants of the era; and a rousing take-down of Northrop's (barely) flying wing ;')Best of all: like all good tales, the reader is rewarded by re-reading, am on my 2nd way thru and learning more that I'd missed (or forgotten!) on the first read.An essential volume for anyone interested in the apex of piston-driven aircraft, and a stirring brace of technical excellence in our time of woke, mushy BS.Try to pressurize a high-tension magneto without rigid principles! And kudos to Graham White for this fantastic slice of American history.

Great book on the Wasp Major, the final engine of Pratt and Whitney's famous Wasp radial engine family. The Wasp Major was a very important engine because compared to the Wright 3350 Duplex Cyclone it was very reliable. For this reason it was used in the B-50 Superfortress which was an upgraded B-29 with the Wasp Major and other improvements. The Wasp Major was also used on the B-36 Peacemaker which used six of these engines in an unusual pusher configuration. These six engines produced a whopping 14,000 to 15,200 horsepower combined to propel the Peace maker into the sky. Compared to the B-17 Flying Fortress the Peacemaker had over 3x the horsepower but this is because the Peacemaker is over 6x the weight of the Flying Fortress Later models of the Peacemaker also used jet engines which added 20,800 pound of thrust for short periods of time. The Wasp Major was not without its faults however. Although mechanically reliable, the Wasp Major had a tendency to catch on fire mid flight especially on the B-36 because of its pusher configuration. The Wasp Major was also very maintenance intensive and an improper starting technique would destroy all 56 spark plugs requiring hours to clean and replace. This is a great book and I would recommend it to anyone fascinated with aircraft engines.

Graham White's book on P&W's R-4360 is a fine and thorough study of one of the greatest aeronautical piston engines ever produced. If you are at all interested in the general subject of aircraft engines, or even engines generally, you should obtain a copy to read and enjoy studying and savoring it slowly over the months after you first go through it. The text is clear and it is well illustrated, all that a book on an aircraft engine should be. My only quibble, and it is a quibble, is that the down-draught inlet ports, a distinct feature of the R-4360, have a much longer history than Mr. White seems to indicate, having been used by BMW in sportscar engines in the 1930s and by Miller in racing engines even earlier; however, since these examples are drawn from outside his field of study, Mr White may be excused, and even were this not the case, the general quality of this work would win him praise not criticism.

After enjoying Graham White's prodigious tome on the P&W R-2800, I was pleased to see another volume released, this time on the R-4360. Mr. White must have access to a tremendous archive of information, because both these books provide a level of detail that can satisfy the most discerning aviation buff. He is also able to describe the various engine systems in a way that does not overwhelm the reader with technical minutiae, something most engineers would be incapable of doing.About the only drawback of these books is their sheer weight. I can only read them for 20 minutes or so before my arms need a rest. I would also have liked to see a chapter or two on Mr. White's efforts at setting up these engines as running displays for air shows. Although not directly related to the history of the engine, to read about actually running one of these on a transport trailer would add a note of current realism to the picture.

Book covers every aspect of the 4360 engine's design and production. A very good read. Will be kept in my library for future reference.

can't get more detailed that this!!

I have been facinated with the R-4360 since I built a B-36 model while in grade school. I did get to see and hear one C-124 depart Lajes AB, Azores while in the USAF. What a sound! This book has a wealth of photos, detailed diagrams and data concerning the applications of the various models of the 4360 and some info on the R-2800 and the R-3350. There are great photos of planes involved, both exterior and interior. By the time I went on active duty, the turboprops had taken over and the sweet rumble of the big radials had been replaced by the awful scream of the kerosene burners. I heartily recommend this book to anyone who loves the round engines.Michael Reid, DVM

A good read. Has excellent photos

Great factual book