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There were two types of airplane engines in WWII - radial, and in-line. Both had cylinders within which pistons traveled back and forth, powered by the exploding fuel. Radial engines were round, and very short front to back. The cylinders were bolted on all around the outside edge.

These engines were air-cooled. Fighter planes with radial engines had a flat, blunt nose, like the US P-47 or the German FW 190. A radial engine could have a gun mounted to fire through the middle of the propeller hub.

In-line engines were water cooled. That meant they needed a radiator just like a car.

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14y ago

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