Continental I-1430-9 Hyper The development of the liquid-cooled Continental Hyper high-horsepower engine began in 1932. It featured cylinders with "spherical" combustion chambers and sodium cooled exhaust valves. An upright V-12 engine was planned, but emphasis was later changed to an inverted V-12 engine for pursuit planes. Continental built the inverted V engine in 1938 and successfully tested it in 1939. In 1943 the 1,600-hp IV-1430 engine, later redesignated the XI-1430, was tested extensively in the Lockheed XP-49, a modified version of the P-38 Lightning. In 1944 it was also tested in the McDonnell XP-67. Only 23 I-1430 series engines were delivered. Although more powerful and lighter than the nearest competitor, the engine was not produced because tooling capacity for large scale production was not available. TECHNICAL NOTES: Model: Continental I-1430 Hyper Type: 12-cylinder, liquid-cooled, inverted Vee Displacement: 1,430 cu.in. Horsepower: 1,600 RPM: 3,200 Weight (dry): 1,615 lbs. Click here to return to the Featured Accessions index. Find Out More Related Fact Sheets Lockheed P-38L Lightning Note: The appearance of hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the National Museum of the USAF, the U.S. Air Force, or the Department of Defense, of the external website, or the information, products or services contained therein.