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Aviation History
1923
1923 - 0117.PDF
MARCH 1, 1923 ^ THE BRISTOL "CHERUB" FLAT TWIN AERO ENGINE - - 18 H.P. at 2,500 R.P.M. ....-• FOR several months past, in the columns of FLIGHT, we have repeatedly called attention to the possibilities of the lightlv- loaded machine with an engine of low power, lamenting the absence of a British engine suitable for the purpose. The position has been a form of vicious circle. It was little use designing a machine of this type so long as one could not get an engine for it, and, on the other hand, while no machines were being built engine-makers were naturally loth to spend money on the evolution of a small engine, not knowing exactly what features it should possess, how high—or perhaps one should say rather how low—the power required was likely to be, and so forth. Now, however, an excellent start has been made by the production of a small sturdy engine, of exactly the size required, and so designed as to require a minimum of attention. THE BRISTOL " CHERUB " : Side view. With their usual foresight, the " Bristol " Aeroplane Co., Ltd., of Filton, Bristol, have been watching during the last few months the growing interest in machines more or less of the glider type, but fitted with small engines, and their aero engine department, under the able guidance of Mr. Roy Fedden, has been developing and perfecting a small flat-twin air-cooled engine of 1,070 c.c. capacity. This work was started more than a year ago, and a stage has now been reached when the firm are convinced that they have produced an engine that is up to the very high standard of efficiency and reliability demanded from all " Bristol " products. The new " Bristol " engine, known as the " Cherub," has been subjected •» to exhaustive ex- - • * periments and tests on the Froude test bench under con- ditions exactly similar to those demanded by the Air Ministry for large aero engines, and the experience gained with the famous Bristol " Jupiters " and " Lucifers " (the former of which recently established a new world's height record in France, where the engines are being built under licence by the Gnome and le Rhone Co.) has enabled the firm to produce this smaller sister, which, it may be taken for granted, will live up to the reputation estab- lished by the larger types. During the testing-out of the experimental en- gine, several 10 hours' non-stop runs have been made on the Froude dynamo- meter, and there is reason to believe that the " Cherub " will prove extremely reliable in service. The Bristol " Cherub " is being manufactured in two slightly different types, so as to make allowance for £he preferences of individual aeroplane designers. In one type a two-to-one reduction gear is enclosed in the crank-case. In A cylinder of the Bristol '' Cherub '' with detachable head removed and in place. THE BRISTOL » CHERUB " : Front and rear views. C 2
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