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radial engine
radial engine, Type of internal-combustion engine used mainly in small airplanes, in which the cylinders (ranging from five to as many as 28, depending on engine size) are mounted in a circle around the crankshaft, sometimes in banks of two or more. Once the dominant piston-engine type, radials are now in only limited production; most new requirements are met by remanufacturing existing stock.
This article was most recently revised and updated by Robert Curley.
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