Radial Engines ae amazing. I was honored when an 80 year old master machinist, also an A&P, asked me if I would help him. It was amazing to see this spin, with the covers off. It had no throttle., only a mixture control. It had a selector that was round, and the arrow, with the handle knob on it, just turned sparks plugs on and off, and you could select which ones were to be one and off, so you could have 3,6, or 9. This was to keep the engine balanced.
It was this plane, a 1928 New Standard. You would not believe the ride he took me for. Pilot sits in back, 4 passengers in front. One leather strap across the two passengers!! First time in a Bi-Plane. Fantastic machines. I flew in that plane 7 times. From what I understand, they cannot gives rides anymore, hopefully that has changed as the plane has been restored to better than new condition, this was in the engine, where modern material was used for the bearings. New bearings are better than old ones, new "good" bearings, that is.
This is the actual aircraft: