2-839-583 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

In early 1930, Allison manager N. H. Gilman sketched a design for a 559 kW (750-hp), 12-cylinder engine that would incorporate high-temperature glycol cooling and a turbosupercharger. The U.S. Navy contracted with Allison to supply the engine (known as the V-1710-A) for use on its airships. Originally known for modified Liberty engines and developing propeller reduction gears, this was the first of Allison’s own engines. Two years later the Army ordered a modified, more powerful version; redesigned during development and reintroduced in 1936 as the V-1710-C6. Allison built more than 47,000 V-1710s in 57 versions. During World War II they powered various models of the Lockheed P-38, Curtiss P-40, Bell P-39 and P-63, and North American P-51. This artifact was the first Allison V-1710 engine to be flown. The Army Air Corps bought it in 1936 and flew it for 300 hours in the Consolidated XA-11A attack aircraft.