Alfa Romeo 135

Alfa Romeo 135
Alfa Romeo 135
Type	18-cylinder radial engine
Manufacturer	Alfa Romeo
First run	1938
Number built	~150

The Alfa Romeo 135 Tornado was an Italian 18-cylinder radial engine designed by Giustino Cattaneo in 1934-35.

The Alfa 135 consists of two nine-cylinder radial rows, back to back, operating a two-throw crankshaft. Cattaneo left Alfa Romeo in 1936, leaving the development of the 135 to eng. Bossi and his staff, but without success. At the time of its first running in 1938 and 1939 it was the most powerful radial engine in the world, generating just less than 1,492 kW (2,001 hp) on 100 octane fuel, but the standard fuel available was 87 octane, with which the 135 developed 890–1,190 kW (1,200–1,600 hp).

Despite the obvious potential, this engine was affected by many reliability problems, but though mechanical defects were addressed during testing, it suffered from overheating and vibrations so seriously that it was rejected from service. Up to 1944 approximately 150 were made, none of which were fitted in operational aircraft.

Further development resulted in the Alfa Romeo 136, but this remain a paper project before the Armistice in September 1943 intervened.

Data from Aircraft Engines of the World 1945 Archivio Storico Alfa Romeo - Volume II

...
Wikipedia