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Aviation History
1934
1934 - 0504.PDF
FLIGHT, MAY 24, 1934 THE BRISTOL "PHCENIX" DIESEL For a total weight of 1,090 Ib. this engine develops 430 b.h.p. at maximum revs., and 470 b.h.p. at take-off at normal revs. Recently the engine established a new world's altitude record in a Westland "JVapiti " FOK the past eight years the Bristol Aeroplane Co.,Ltd., has been working, on behalf of the Air Minis-try, on the development of a crude oil compression-ignition engine suitable for aircraft. The work may be said to have born its first fruits recently, when, as announced in FLIGHT last week, one of these engines, in a Westland " Wapiti " piloted by Mr. Penrose, attained an altitude of something like 28,000 ft. It is to be hoped that the wonderful results already achieved will encourage those responsible to continue the development in the direction of larger units. Developed from the now famous Bristol " Pegasus," the Bristol " Phoenix " Diesel engine is a nine-cylinder radial air-cooled, with a bore of 5.75 in. (146.05 mm.) and a stroke of 7.5 in. (190.5 mm.), giving a total swept volume of 1,753 cu. in. (28.7 litres). As in the " Pegasus," there is a reduction gear to the airscrew, the ratio being 0.655 to 1. The engine speed is 2,000 r.p.m. max. and 1,900 r.p.m. normal. The rated power at normal r.p.m. is 415 b.h.p., and the power at maximum speed is 430 b.h.p. For take-off at normal r.p.m. no less than 470 b.h.p. is available. At a weight complete of 1,090 1b. (493.4 kg.), the specific weight, based on normal power, is 2.63 lb./h.p. For the purpose of obtaining directly comparative data on the " Phoenix " engine, arrangements were made by the Air Ministry for its installation in a standard Service " Jupiter VIII F." engined " Wapiti " general-purpose landplane and for flight tests to be carried out by the Westland Aircraft Company. Little alteration was found necessary to the machine, apart from the fuel system and engine controls. The report on the very complete series of comparative trials carried out by the test pilot of the Westland Air- craft Company states that:—"In general the Phoenix engine can be said to be perfectly satisfactory from all aspects of operation of an aircraft engine, and in addition possesses advantages which are particularly interesting when considering certain aircraft requirements." Starting with the hand or electrically energised inertia starter was positive and very satisfactory, no difficulty being experienced, although in one case the engine was standing for a period of approximately seven days between consecutive flights. Regular slow running, though a little faster than with a petrol engine, together with excellent acceleration, were additional features, while the marked smoothness of the engine with no sign of " Diesel thump " was favourably commented on by the pilot, the engine being indistinguishable in this respect from a petrol engine. This smoothness of running was accompanied by excep- tional quietness of operation noticeable both from the ground and in the machine. Analysis of the comparative test results showed that the power output at altitude is maintained a great deal better than is the case with the petrol engine, and this feature is reflected in the performance figures obtained. These show that, compared with the " Jupiter VIII F." engine of slightly higher rated power, the maximum speed at 15,000 ft. is increased by 5 m.p.h. and the climb time to this height improved by 13 per cent. The take-off was equally satisfactory, requiring 13 seconds for a 500-ft. run at the maximum all-up weight of 5,300 lb. The power maintenance characteristics of the " Phoenix " Comparative Power, Consumption and Weight Data of 9-cylinder radial air-cooled Diesel and Petrol Engines Type of Engine Compression ignition, 1934Petrol, 1930 Petrol, 1934 Relative MaximumOutput per Litre. Take Off 100126 163 Flight 100140 174 Cruising Fuel Consumption, Lb./B.H.P./ Hour 0-3900-543 0-491 Weight per Cruising B.H.P. Engine Gross to B.S.I. 185 Plus Fuel and Oil 2 Hours 4-164-31 3-88 4 Hours 5-055-56 4-99 6Hours 5-956-80 610 8 Hours 6-848-05 7-21 10 Hours 7-739-30 8-32 504
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