Wikipedia on Chrysler's V16 HEMI

["Wayne Graefen" <wgraefen@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

In 1939 Chrysler was contracted by the US government to create a new engine for use in fighter aircraft. Chrysler responded by designing an inverted V16. They tried many designs before choosing a design with a hemispherical combustion chambered OHV head. The big V16 was rated at 2500hp. it was finally tested in June of 1945. It was installed in the P-47 Thunderbolt in place of a radial engine. This airplane was designated the XP47H. The change in engine and aerodynamics increased the top speed from 439mph to 504mph. The war ended shortly, and the hemi V16 was never mass-produced, although the basic design and valvetrain setup live on in today's Hemi V8s.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V16_engine

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]