BMW 132E Note: This item is currently in storage. The BMW 132 series was the principal large radial engine used in Germany during the early 1930s. It was essentially a copy of the Pratt and Whitney "Hornet" designed in America. In 1929 BMW (Bavarian Motor Works) obtained a license to build the "Hornet" in Germany. From 1929 to 1945, more than 21,000 BMW 132 engines were built. The nine-cylinder engine has a displacement of 1,690 cubic inches and produces 725 to 970 horsepower, depending on the model. It was used primarily in the three-engine Junkers Ju 52/3m transport. The engine was restored by museum volunteers and completed in May 1994. Click here to return to the Featured Accessions index.