Allison V-1710

Published April 21, 2015

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DAYTON, Ohio -- Allison V-1710 on display in the World War II Gallery at the National Museum of the United States Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo)

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DAYTON, Ohio -- Allison V-1710 on display in the World War II Gallery at the National Museum of the United States Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo)

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DAYTON, Ohio -- Allison V-1710 on display in the World War II Gallery at the National Museum of the United States Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo)

The V-1710 engine was the product of an extensive Army program to develop a high-power, liquid-cooled engine. Derived from a model designed in 1930 for airship use, the V-1710 was first used by the Air Corps in 1932. Rated at 1,000 hp, it was installed in the Consolidated XA-11A, an experimental attack version of the Consolidated P-25.

By 1938 the engine's output had been increased to 1,150 hp and it was used to power the Bell X/YFM-1 multiplace fighters. The V-1710 was continually improved, and during World War II its output was increased to 1,475 hp in some engine series. During the war, it was used primarily in the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, the Bell P-39 Airacobra and the twin-engine Lockheed P-38 Lightning. It was also used in early versions of the North American P-51 Mustang.

The engine on display, a right-hand drive V-1710-51, is of the series used primarily in the P-38G. When installed in a twin-engine P-38, it was paired with a left-hand drive V-1710-55 engine to counteract the effect of torque. The only difference between the two engines was the direction of propeller-shaft rotation.

TECHNICAL NOTES:
Model: V-1710-51 (right-hand drive)
Type: 12-cylinder, supercharged
Displacement: 1,710 cu.in.
Weight: 1,345 lbs.
Maximum rpm: 3,000
Maximum hp: 1,325
Cost: $19,000

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Related Fact Sheets

Lockheed P-38L Lightning

Bell P-39Q Airacobra

Curtiss P-40E Warhawk

North American P-51D Mustang

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Allison V-1710

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