Why radial engines are preferred?

Reliability – Simply put, the radial engine is generally much more reliable. This is because it features a shorter crankshaft, simpler design, and creates less vibration. That less vibration means that it will suffer from greatly reduced levels of wear and tear during use.

Are radial engines better than inline engines?

The radial saved weight by eliminating the liquid cooling system but the inline could be run more intensively because the engine cooling was more effective, resulting in smaller engines for the same power output. The radial was less vulnerable and eliminated the logistics of liquid coolant.

Why were radial engines used in WW2?

Radial engine (the same as used in the WWII B-29 Superfortess, the Wright Duplex Cyclone , the 2700 hp version) heavy and diverse ordnance load, and very long loiter times plus slower airspeed made it ideal for CAS (Close Air Support). Additionally, radial engines can absorb huge amounts of structural damage and keep flying.

What type of engines were used in WWII planes?

Later, when cooling and cowling aerodynamics were improved, air-cooled radials were often used, as in the Republic P-47 and Focke Wulf Fw 190. In many cases, the same basic engine was used in both fighters and bombers.

Why did WWII planes have so many stages of supercharging?

This focused attention on small design details because of the resultant higher stresses and temperatures. Consequently, the engines used early in World War II often had up to two stages of supercharging, with the pilot able to select from two different supercharger impeller speeds.

How did aircraft speed increase during World War II?

It is noteworthy that with very few exceptions, almost all improvements in aircraft speed and load-carrying capability during World War II came from increased engine power and not from aerodynamic, structure, or system improvements in airframes. In turn, engine power increases came mainly from improvements in fuel and superchargers.