his book focuses on what was arguably the finest aircraft piston engine ever produced -- the Pratt & Whitney R-2800. It was an engine that was put together with the invaluable help of those who were actually there at the drawing boards, in the test cells and at the test flights.An aircraft engine, however, does not stand alone. R-2800: Pratt & Whitney's Dependable Masterpiece provides a background of Pratt & Whitney and delves into the design challenges faced by its engineers when building the R-2800, answering questions like:How did the airframe designers mount the engine?What kind of exhaust engine was deployed?How was the intercooler supplied with cooling air?In addition, this comprehensive book covers propellers, carburetors, and the many famous (and not-so-famous) aircraft the R-2800 powered.