The Warner Scarab is an American seven-cylinder radial aircraft engine, that was manufactured by the Warner Aircraft Corporation of Detroit, Michigan in 1928 through to the early 1940s. In military service the engine was designated R-420.
Scarab S-50A 7-cyl. air-cooled radial engine introduced in 1928. With a bore and stroke of 4.25 inches and a compression ratio of 5.2:1, the Scarab developed 125 hp (93 kW) at 2,050 rpm from 422 cu in (7 l) with a dry weight of 285 lb (129 kg).
Scarab JuniorA 5-cyl. version introduced in 1930 developing 90 hp (67 kW) at 2125 rpm from 301 cu in (5 l) with a dry weight of 230 lb (104 kg).
Super Scarab SS-50/50AIncreased cylinder bore to 4.625 inches to develop 145 hp (108 kW) at 2,050 rpm from 499 cu in (8 l) with a dry weight of 303 lb (137 kg).
Super Scarab SS-165Increased compression ratio from 5.2:1 to 6.4:1 to develop 165 hp (123 kW) at 2,100 rpm with a dry weight of 341 lb (155 kg).
Super Scarab SS-185Increased cylinder bore to 4.875 inches, developing 185 hp (138 kW) at 2175 rpm from 555 cu in (9 l), with a dry weight of 344 lb (156 kg).
R-420Military designation of the Scarab.
R-500Military designation of the Super Scarab 165.
R-550Military designation of the Super Scarab 185.
145Alternative designation for the Warner Super Scarab SS-50/50A .
165Alternative designation for the Warner Super Scarab 165 .
185Alternative designation for the Warner Super Scarab 185 (Primarily a helicopter application).
Amongst the many uses for the Scarab, the engine was fitted to the Cessna Airmaster and the Fairchild 24 (UC61 or Argus). Notably, in 1942, it was put into use powering the Sikorsky R-4, the first helicopter to be put into production.
Many of these reliable engines soldier on today, still powering the aircraft to which they were originally mounted. The Warner 145 and 165 HP engines are the most commonly seen of the small radials for US-built pre-World War II era aircraft, in large part because of good parts availability due to the engines having been used on World War II Fairchild UC61s and Meyers OTWs.
Warner engines are also in demand as realistically sized, though far more powerful, replacement powerplants for many replica or restored World War I era airplanes which were originally fitted with rotary engines.
Data from FAA Type Certificate Data Sheet (TCDS).
Type: Seven-cylinder, air-cooled, radial piston engineBore: 4.25 in (108 mm)Stroke: 4.25 in (108 mm)Displacement: 422 cu in (6.92 L)Length: 14 in (35.5 cm)Height: 36.5 in (93 cm)Dry weight: 292 lb (132.5 kg)Valvetrain: 1 inlet and 1 exhaust valve per cylinderFuel system: 2 Stromberg carburetorsFuel type: 67 octane AvgasOil system: Dry sumpCooling system: Air-cooledPower output: 125 hp at 2,050 rpmCompression ratio: 5.15:1Power-to-weight ratio: 0.43 hp/lb