The Bristol Cherub is a British two-cylinder, air-cooled, aircraft engine designed and built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company. Introduced in 1923 it was a popular engine for ultralight and small aircraft in the 1930s.[1]

Cherub
Preserved Bristol Cherub engine
Type Piston aircraft engine
Manufacturer Bristol Aeroplane Company
First run 1923
Major applications Bristol Brownie
Hawker Cygnet

Variants

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Cherub I
Initial direct drive version introduced in 1923. Bore and stroke of 3.35 by 3.8 inches (85 mm × 97 mm) for a displacement of 67 cu in (1.095 L). 32 horsepower (24 kW) at 2,500 rpm.[2]
Cherub II
Geared down (2:1) version of the Cherub I.
Cherub III
An improved and slightly larger (1.228 L) direct drive version introduced in 1925.

Applications

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Cherub-powered Short Satellite

Survivors

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An airworthy Messerschmitt M17 replica is owned and operated by the EADS Heritage Flight at Manching and is powered by an original Bristol Cherub III.[3]

Engines on display

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A preserved Bristol Cherub is on static display at the Shuttleworth Collection, Old Warden, Bedfordshire.

Specifications (Cherub III)

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Data from Lumsden.[4]

General characteristics

  • Type: 2-cylinder air-cooled, horizontally opposed, left-hand tractor
  • Bore: 3.54 in (90 mm)
  • Stroke: 3.8 in (96.5 mm)
  • Displacement: 75 in³ (1.228 L)
  • Width: 25.6 in (650 mm)
  • Dry weight: 98 lb (39.5 kg)

Components

  • Valvetrain: Overhead valve
  • Oil system: Dry sump
  • Cooling system: Air-cooled

Performance

See also

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Comparable engines

Related lists

References

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Notes

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  1. ^ Guttery 1969, p.80.
  2. ^ Lumsden 2003, p.101.
  3. ^ EADS - Messerschmitt M17[permanent dead link] Retrieved: 9 August 2009
  4. ^ Lumsden 2003, p.102.

Bibliography

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  • Guttery, T.E. The Shuttleworth Collection. London: Wm. Carling & Co, 1969. ISBN 0-901319-01-5
  • Lumsden, Alec. British Piston Engines and their Aircraft. Marlborough, Wiltshire: Airlife Publishing, 2003. ISBN 1-85310-294-6.
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