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Rolls Royce Kestrel

Rolls Royce Kestral EngineClick on image for larger version
The Kestrel was a V12 supercharged liquid cooled aircraft engine that emanated from a 1920's British Air Ministry's tasking of Rolls Royce and Napier and Sons to produce an aircraft engine that was in all respects superior to the American Curtiss D-12, a V12 liquid cooled engine that was at the time the most powerful aircraft engine at 450hp, and with the use of cast aluminium cylinder blocks instead of the contemporary use of individual steel cylinders attached to the crankcase, was lighter and made for a stronger engine structure.
A Napier Chief Design Engineer left and joining Rolls Royce designed what became the Rolls Royce Kestrel V12 engine.

The new engine featured a pressurised cooling system that prevented the coolant boiling with altitude against falling air ambient air pressure by heating the coolant to 160 degrees centigrade that also had the advantage of increasing the boiling point of the coolant at ground level. Another feature was a supercharging system that operated from ground level upward producing performance that surpassed that of normally aspirated  engine at all altitudes.

The Mk1 engine first ran in late 1926 and produced 450hp, this was upped to 525hp with the Mk1b that was used exclusively in the Hawker series of biplane fighter aircraft in the early and mid 1930s. This became 695hp with the MkV and 720hp with the MkXXX in 1940.

The engine powered many military aircraft in the 1930s including several Fairey and Miles products, and was also used in the prototypes of the German Messerschmitt BF109 and Junkers JU87 aircraft as well. 


TECHNICAL DATA- Kestrel MkV
Cylinders
Length
Width
Height
Bore and stroke
Displacement
Dry weight
Valve system
Supercharger
Cooling system
Fuel system
Maximum power
Compression ratio
​Power to weight ratio



V12 cylinder supercharged liquid cooled piston engine
74.61in (1,895mm)
24.41in (620mm)
35.63in (905mm)
5.0in (127mm)  and  Stroke 5.5in (140mm)
1,295.88 cu in (21.24L)
957lbs (434kg)
Single overhead cam shaft operating 2 inlet and 2 exhaust valves per cylinder
Centrifugal
Liquid cooled, pressurised and heated to 160 degrees centigrade
Rolls Royce carburettor
685hp @ take off - 631hp @ 14,400ft (4,390m)
6.0/1
​0.72hp/lb

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  • Home
  • ABOUT
    • News
    • History
  • Community Engagement
    • Legends of The Skies
  • Birthdays & Functions
  • Our Collection
    • CATEGORIES >
      • ENGINES
      • COMMONWEALTH AIRCRAFT CORPORATION
      • D.A.P / G.A.F.
      • R.A.A.F. / R.A.N. / ARMY
      • COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT
      • KIT AIRCRAFT
      • OTHER AIRCRAFT
      • GLIDERS
  • membership
  • ONLINE SHOP
  • Support the Museum
    • Donations
    • EMPLOYEE GIVING
    • Our Supporters
  • Getting There
  • Contact