The Alfa Romeo 135 Tornado was an Italian

Italy

Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...

 18-cylinder radial engine

Radial engine

The radial engine is a reciprocating type internal combustion engine configuration in which the cylinders point outward from a central crankshaft like the spokes on a wheel...

 designed by Giustino Cattaneo in 1934-35. It basically consisted of two nine-cylinder radials, using similar engines to the Alfa Romeo 126. Cattaneo leaved A.R. in 1936, leaving the development 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 1492 kW (2000 hp) on 100-octane fuel, but the normal was 87 (1,200-1,600 hp).
Despite the obvious potential, this engine was affected by many reliability problems. Apparently solved in test made in 1939, actually, even if no longer affected by breaking and mechanical faults, it suffered from overheating and vibrations, so seriously that it was rejected from the service, even if Italy badly needed more powerful units; until 1944 only an handful were made, and never fitted in a operational aircraft. Only around 150 units of this engine were manufactured.

Specifications

• Power output:1177 kW (1600 hp) at Take Off, 1030 kW (1400 CV) at 3200m

Applications

• Cant Z.1018 "Leone"
• Savoia-Marchetti SM.87 (four planes)
• Savoia-Marchetti SM.82
  Savoia-Marchetti SM.82
  The Savoia-Marchetti SM.82 was an Italian bomber and transport aircraft of World War II. It was a cantilever, mid-wing monoplane trimotor with a retractable, tailwheel undercarriage...
  
   (central engine)
• Savoia-Marchetti SM.90
  Savoia-Marchetti SM.75
  The Savoia-Marchetti SM.75 Marsupiale was an Italian passenger and military transport aircraft of the 1930s and 1940s. It was a low-wing, trimotor monoplane of mixed metal and wood construction with a retractable tailwheel undercarriage....
  
  (one prototype)
• Cant Z 1014 (five prototypes)

Specifications

• Power output:1765 kW (2400 hp) at 0m, 1360 kW (1850 CV) at 2500m

Specifications

• Power output:1618 kW (2200 hp) at Take Off, 1214 kW (1650 CV) at 6500m