The Studebaker XH-9350: The Largest Piston Airplane Engine That Never Flew

The most monstrous WWII aircraft engine that you have never heard of is called the Studebaker XH-9350. A truly mind boggling project that Studebaker was the last option for when it began in 1942, it's an engine that would have been unmatched in aviation history had it been completed. Designed as an H-layout, it was to displace 9,350ci and make north of 5,000hp on gasoline. The engine was almost 10ft long and was over 100" wide as well. It was fed by two turbochargers that weighed 250lbs a piece and moved 14,500cfm of air. This is the story of the engine's background, its development including some incredible single cylinder engines, and interesting gearhead tech, and finally a look at why the Army Air Corps believed that they needed it. Few have heard of this long lost project from the skunkworks of WWII.