Editing Radial engine (section)

{{Short description|Reciprocating engine with cylinders arranged radially from a single crankshaft}}
{{About|the conventional radial engine with fixed cylinders and a revolving crankshaft|the otherwise similar engine with a rotating crankcase|rotary engine}}
[[File:Radial engine WACO QCF2.jpg|thumb|Radial engine in a [[biplane]] ]]

The '''radial engine''' is a [[reciprocating engine|reciprocating type]] [[internal combustion engine|internal combustion]] [[engine configuration]] in which the [[cylinder (engine)|cylinder]]s "radiate" outward from a central [[crankcase]] like the spokes of a wheel. It resembles a stylized [[Star polygon|star]] when viewed from the front, and is called a "star engine" in some other languages.

The radial configuration was commonly used for [[aircraft engine]]s before [[gas turbine]] engines became predominant.
[[File:Radial engine timing.gif|thumb|Moving parts showing operation of a typical small five-cylinder radial.<br>Pistons are in gold and valves in pink, master rod in pale purple, slaved connecting rods in blue, crankshaft / counterbalance in gray and timing ring and cams in red.]]