Liberty L-8 Note: This item is currently in storage. The eight-cylinder version of the Liberty, also water-cooled, was the first Liberty designed and built; it preceded not only the Liberty 12 but also the four- and six-cylinder versions. It was also the first Liberty flight-tested in an airplane (Aug. 29, 1917). It developed 270 hp initially, but its output was later boosted to 330 hp. The L-8 suffered serious vibration problems and since the Hispano-Suiza 300-hp engine had already been perfected, development of the L-8 was halted after Buick of General Motors had built 15 at a cost of $3,000 each. The L-8 was installed in the Engineering Division USB-2 (only one built) in 1918 and the Pomilio FVL-8 (only six built) in 1919. Click here to return to the Featured Accessions index. Find Out More Related Fact Sheets Liberty L-4 Engine Liberty L-6 Engine Liberty 12-Cylinder Engine 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.