Definition
A piston engine in which the cylinders are arranged in two rows, or banks, set at an angle to each other so that they form the shape of the letter V when viewed from the end of the crankshaft. Both banks of cylinders drive a single common crankshaft.
Plain English
An engine where the cylinders are split into two slanted rows that meet at the bottom, making a V shape. Both rows turn the same central shaft.
Context Anchor
Seen in aircraft engine descriptions, maintenance manuals, and lessons about different engine layouts.
Derivation
Named for the literal V shape formed by the two banks of cylinders. The geometric letter is the description.
Why Pilots Care
Engine configuration affects how the aircraft is cooled, how it handles, and how the cowling is shaped. Recognizing engine types helps a pilot understand the design choices behind the aircraft they fly and the maintenance considerations that follow.
Intuition Check
V-type does not mean a version number or model grade. Here, V describes the physical shape of the engine’s cylinder arrangement.
Example Sentence 1
Many older military fighters used a liquid-cooled V-type engine to fit a powerful design into a narrow, streamlined cowling.
Example Sentence 2
Many older training aircraft used a V-type engine because it delivered good power while keeping the nose of the airplane relatively short.