This ENGINE is Not What You Think...

The BMW 801 was the first German high-performance, air-cooled radial engine of new design introduced after the start of World War II.

[donaldclinton]

1500hp is even more impressive when you account for the low RPM

[AngryCarMechanic]

I love radial engines so much. People always talk about the Rolls Royce and Packard Merlin, but the Pratt and Whitney R-2800 and the BMW 801 just have a chop that makes my back tingle.

I remember being a kid and seeing a P-47 start up at a little Airfield near my house. Seeing such a giant plane shake the ground with just its engine running had a profound effect on me.

The P-47, F6F Hellcat, and F4U Corsair are all tied for my favorite American ww2 aircraft.

[Thinkflite]

All the British, US and German radials are so impressive at airshows... the Hawker Sea Fury, FW 190 and P-47 Thunderbolt were absolute beasts! The P51 gets all the glory but the P47 for me is a super machine

[mpetersen]

The true genius in the 801 was its automatic mixture and spark timing control. See Greg's Planes and Automobiles for a video on it.

[derekstocker]

Fantastic engine and what an aircraft the FW 190 was at the time and still fabulous to look at and listen to.

[princesssolace]

Mechanical direct Injection by BMW in 1940s . We only get a proper working direct injection in a car after 2008

[jaredkennedy]

It's interesting that while being a gasoline engine (according to Wikipedia anyway), it has bowl type pistons more commonly seen in diesels.

[reverseuniverse]

Just that sound alone gives me shivers

[rafaeltorres]

The engine that powered the North American P51 mustang was only 27liters and produced 1500 hp ....the quality of the fuel makes all the difference.

[oligoprimer]

YUN-kers, not Junk-ers. The J is pronounced as a Y in German.

[JanPeterson]

Man, nothing else sounds like a big radial. Love it that these are still flying.

[johnbuckner]

I am glad that we have club groups that preserve, and keep that history alive. Volunteer these clubs they can always use a extra hand. And you might learn a new skill !

[markrichards]

My favorite part of how jet engines were created is how back then the solution to more power resulted in the creation of the turbocharger. Then it was realized that the piston engine was just in the way. So they took the turbocharger and put a continuously fed combustion chamber between the compressor and the turbine and unleashed more power then they thought possible.

[HotelPapa]

It wasn't only surpassed by jet enginges. Its single stage blower limited its development potential severely. Which is why later versions of the Fw 190 switched to inline "bomber" engines.
Also: While some versions of the Ju 88 had the 801, most were Jumo powered.

[Terrados]

Not to mention the Kommandogerät which massively reduced workload for the pilot. Basically a mechanical computer which automatically controlled most of the engine parameters (fuel mixture, prop RPM, boost pressure, etc) so the pilot only had to control the throttle.

[shop]

"Stacking radial engines was a big design for warbirds. 4 deep. I can't recall .
Sipping fuel down at 100 gallons an hour.
Imagine the weight too. All for one propeller. End of an Era right here.

[Wildlifesupernannyfan]

That makes traditional propeller engines so beautifully loud!!

[monsieurcommissaire]

I love all big 2(or more)-row radials, my favourite being the 18 cylinder P&W R2800, but there's just something about a big 14 cylinder radial that makes me smile. I think they sound just totally badass and all business. Somewhat reminiscent of the lewd, nasty and awesome sound of an automotive V10.

[LarryPeteet]

What a beautiful radial engine!! And runs like it looks!

[terrydouglas]

When that motor started up it was like having a Honda motorcycle versus a Harley-Davidson motorcycle between the two sounds the engines made.