The BMW 801 was a powerful German air-cooled radial aircraft engine built by BMW and used in a number of German military aircraft of World War II. The engine's cylinders were in two rows of seven cylinders each, the bore and stroke were both 156 mm (6.14 in), giving a total capacity of 41.8 litres (2,502 in³). The engine generated between 1,560 and 2,000 PS (1,540-1,970 hp, or 1,150 and 1,470 kW). The unit (including mounts) weighed from 1,010 to 1,250 kg and was about 1.29 m (51 in) across, depending on the model.
The 801 was originally intended to replace existing radial types in German transport and utility aircraft. At the time, it was widely agreed among European designers that an inline engine was a requirement for high performance designs due to its smaller frontal area and resulting lower drag. Kurt Tank fit one to a new fighter design he was working on, and the 801 remains best known as the powerplant for the famous Focke-Wulf Fw 190.
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